C-PACT and AfCTA: Paving Tinubu’s Pathway to Industrial, Export Growth 

Okey IBEKE

Penultimate week, (17–19 November 2025), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) convened a major continental meeting in Abuja – the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Summit. The event brought customs chiefs, policy experts and private-sector operators in Africa and across the globe together to tackle long-standing cross-border barriers and frictions and accelerate Africa’s integration under the AfCFTA.

Despite heightened security concerns, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) successfully convened the meeting, demonstrating national commitment to driving continental trade reform and advancing implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

No doubt, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s doggedness, vision, diplomatic skill, firm leadership and his Chairmanship of World Customs Organization’s Policy Commission, played a pivotal role in the hosting and success of the 2025 African Customs Cooperation Summit.

At a time when concerns over insecurity could easily have discouraged attendance or forced postponement, the Customs Comptroller-General personally championed the initiative, secured the confidence of partner administrations, and mobilized the institutional machinery required to convene customs chiefs, technical experts, and international trade figures from across Africa and beyond.

A roll call of the attendance shows that there were about 30 Heads of Customs administrations from Africa, delegates from the World Customs OrganiSation (WCO) led by the Secretary-General, Ian Saunders himself, representatives of Customs administrations from Europe and other parts of the world, numerous global bilateral and multilateral agencies, manufacturers and top players in trade and commerce in Africa, including Nigeria. Multilateral Bank, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) was also in full attendance to showcase the numerous facilities available to African manufacturers and businesses in line with its mission of promoting intra-African trade and investment.

Adeniyi’s ability to pull together such a diverse and high-level gathering in Abuja–despite a climate of fear that affected public mood that period –stands as a remarkable demonstration of commitment, credibility, and resolve.

Under CGC Adeniyi’s leadership, the NCS has positioned Nigeria not merely as a participant in continental trade reforms, but as a convener of strategic dialogue and an architect of modern customs cooperation. The successful hosting of this meeting reflects his unwavering dedication to strengthening trade facilitation, boosting industrial competitiveness, and ensuring that Nigeria plays a leading role in shaping the future of the AfCFTA.

The summit, hosted at the Transcorp Hilton, signified Nigeria’s intent to lead harmonization procedures, digitalization and removal of non-tariff barriers that choke intra-African trade.

Intra-African trade remains far below its potential. Fragmented customs procedures, non-tariff barriers (NTBs), manual paperwork, and insecure or inefficient border posts drive up transaction costs, delay shipments and discourage manufacturers from exporting.

For Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy by population and a major regional trade hub, reducing these inhibitions is central to industrialization, export diversification and job creation. The Abuja summit, therefore, aimed to convert political momentum behind AfCFTA into concrete customs cooperation and operational reforms.

The summit focused on harmoniSing customs procedures, deepening digitalization, and addressing long-standing non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that inhibit the free movement of goods. Hence, for Nigeria seeking diversification, export expansion, and industrial growth, the outcomes of the Abuja meeting present a unique opportunity to shape its trade architecture.

Several substantive themes and initiatives emerged from the C-PACT Summit. These include:

Harmonization of procedures and Non-Trade Barriers (NTB) reduction:  Participants were committed to strengthened cooperation and to identify and remove NTBs that impede shipments, with a focus on aligning documentary requirements and simplifying clearance steps across borders. The Nigeria Customs Service framed this as part of a continental push to make borders “efficient enough to facilitate trade” rather than hinder it.

Digitalization and Single-window systems:

The Nigeria Customs has rolled out the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS, codenamed B’Odogwu), and is pushing integration with other regulatory agencies’ systems to shorten clearance times and reduce discretionary delays. Digital platforms and data sharing were flagged as essential to faster transit, better risk management and transparency.

Operational cooperation and information-sharing:

The summit emphasized routine exchanges between customs administrations (risk profiles, seizures, best practices) and institutionalized follow-ups, with the C-PACT initiative presented as a mechanism for regular engagement and peer learning.

Support for MSMEs and export push:

Delegates discussed measures to help small and medium exporters to access continental markets — simplifying documentation, predictable tariff treatment and clearer transit rules to lower the cost of reaching neighbouring markets.

Partnerships with global and regional bodies:

High-level participation from the World Customs Organization, regional revenue authorities and development partners underlined that many reforms will be technical, capacity-driven and require donor/technical support.

The summit, indeed, had a lot to offer Nigeria. In particular, the successful hosting of the event has raised hope of enhancing Nigeria’s industrial and export growth. Moreover, it has helped to pave the way for President Tinubu’s drive for industrial and export growth.

Specifically, from the summit emerged policy recommendations for the NCS, the federal government and the private sector.

For the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the policy recommendations include:

*Fast-track full digital integration of UCMS.

*Ensure all commands are live on the platform.

*Integrate with port authorities, NAFDAC, SON, Immigration, and shipping lines.

*Adopt AI-driven risk management to reduce physical examinations.

*Lead the creation of a Continental Customs Data Hub.

*Serve as the host country for a shared African customs intelligence database.

*Enable profiling of high-risk importers, transit fraud, and illicit trade patterns.

*Institutionalize quarterly NTB audits.

*Identify barriers created by customs or partner agencies.

*Publish findings and commit to measurable removal timelines.

*Launch a National AfCFTA Customs Desk.

*Create a one-stop platform to support SMEs with documentation, rules of origin and export clearance.

For the Federal Government:

*Strengthen inter-agency governance of border operations.

*Create a Joint Border Management Task Force with mandates for customs, immigration, NDLEA, police, and military.

*Reduce duplication at checkpoints.

*Invest in border infrastructure and security technology.

*Deploy drones, CCTV surveillance, and smart cargo scanning at major corridors.

*Expand secure truck parks at border posts (Seme, Jibia, Mfum, Illela).

*Support port and corridor digitalization.

*Align customs reforms with the Marine & Blue Economy Ministry’s automation investments.

*Accelerate the National Single Window initiative.

For the Private Sector:

*Adopt digital documentation systems to support customs automation.

*Participate in customs-private sector dialogues for continuous feedback.

*Train logistics and compliance teams on AfCFTA requirements.

*Scaling SME awareness on AfCFTA rules of origin.

These conference outcomes and resolutions, if translated to operational reforms, will deliver immense benefits for trade and industrial growth. A faithful and judicious implementation of the outcomes and recommendations would deliver the following benefits:

*Lower trade costs and faster transit times.

*Harmonized procedures and single-window linkages reducing time-in-port and days-in-transit which are crucial for manufacturers and exporters dependent on predictable lead times.

*Greater formalization and revenue predictability: Automated risk management and better data will reduce leakages and smuggling while making trade easier for compliant businesses.

*Scaling regional value chains: Reduced frictions will help Nigerian producers to source inputs regionally and reach regional markets, supporting industrial clusters and adding value domestically rather than exporting raw materials.

*For SMEs, fewer documentary barriers and predictable customs treatment will make cross-border sales feasible, engendering export growth and increasing jobs and diversification.

Once again, Nigeria Customs Service deserves commendations for pulling the event through a time kidnappings, banditry and attacks dominated headlines and prompted security debates in Abuja and nation-wide.

Though the Service acknowledged these security concerns, it proceeded with heightened security measures and diplomatic outreach that ensured full participation from across the continent. The attendance was quite impressive. The attendees are to be commended for their unflinching commitment to duty.

That the summit ran as scheduled underscored both the urgency the attendees attach to economic integration and a political determination to keep trade-facilitating diplomacy on track even while domestic security challenges persist across Africa.

Indeed, the Abuja Summit has set a new benchmark for customs diplomacy in Africa. Nigeria did not just host a meeting –it demonstrated leadership at a critical moment, reinforcing the country’s commitment to a borderless, competitive, and industrially vibrant Africa.

With the unflinching leadership of CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the strategic roadmap emerging from the Summit, Nigeria is well-positioned to accelerate trade facilitation, strengthen regional integration, and drive the continent’s industrial transformation.

The success of the Summit has reaffirmed Nigeria’s position as a leading voice in continental trade facilitation and customs modernization. And this aligns with President Tinubu’s broader goals of expanding industrial capacity, boosting exports, and strengthening the region’s economic integration. It also aligns with the reasons that led to Adewale Adeniyi’s tenure extension as Customs Comptroller-General.

One recalls that President Bola Tinubu approved the extension of Adeniyi’s tenure, to enable him to consolidate customs ongoing reforms and complete critical initiatives of the federal government, including customs modernization, implementation of the National Single Window Project, and the execution of Nigeria’s obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol.

The event, therefore, confirms President Tinubu’s confidence and recognition of Adeniyi’s “steadfast leadership and commitment to service”.

With all the three major reasons for CG Wale Adeniyi’s tenure extension forming the bedrock of the summit, and the actionable outcomes and recommendations that emerged, the way has been undeniably paved for the President’s quest for sustainable industrial and export growth.

.Okey IBEKE is the Principal Consultant, International Trade Advisory Services Limited