The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the United Kingdom’s His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have initiated moves to address a £1.2 billion discrepancy in bilateral trade data, while deepening cooperation on digital border management and trade facilitation.
This formed the crux of a high-level bilateral meeting held in London on March 18, 2026, under the Nigeria–United Kingdom Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), on the sidelines of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, led the Nigerian delegation, while Ms Megan Shaw, Head of International Customs and Border Engagement at HMRC, represented the UK. Discussions focused on advancing customs modernisation, improving transparency in trade data, and strengthening operational collaboration between both administrations.
At the centre of the engagement was the significant gap in trade figures between both countries. Statistics show that Nigeria recorded approximately £504 million in imports from the United Kingdom in 2024, whereas the UK reported exports to Nigeria valued at about £1.7 billion within the same period, leaving a discrepancy of over £1.2 billion.
Both parties described the mismatch as a structural issue and agreed on the need for coordinated action. To address this, they proposed the establishment of a structured pre-arrival data exchange framework between their respective digital customs systems. The initiative is expected to enhance risk management, improve data reconciliation, and strengthen compliance monitoring across the Nigeria–UK trade corridor.
Speaking during the meeting, Adeniyi stressed that effective customs cooperation remains a key driver of economic growth and sustainable trade development. He noted that Nigeria and the United Kingdom share a long-standing trade relationship spanning sectors such as agriculture, energy, industrial goods, and consumer products.
He added that customs administrations play a critical frontline role in ensuring that trade flows remain transparent, secure, and mutually beneficial.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for both countries to present their customs modernisation efforts. HMRC highlighted its deployment of artificial intelligence-driven tools, digital verification systems, and real-time analytics capabilities to improve border efficiency.
Both sides underscored the importance of deeper collaboration in technology deployment, particularly in the area of digital border management.
Key outcomes of the meeting include plans to develop a Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Framework, commence technical scoping for capacity building and knowledge exchange, and establish a joint technical engagement mechanism under the ETIP framework.
The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening international partnerships as part of its broader modernisation agenda. It stated that outcomes from the engagement would enhance operational efficiency, boost trade facilitation, and support Nigeria’s economic reform objectives under the Renewed Hope programme.
