By Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Nigeria Customs Service and the Royal Malaysian Customs Department have advanced efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation on trade facilitation and border management, following a high-level engagement between both institutions.
This was contained in a press release issued on Thursday, which detailed an official visit by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to the headquarters of the Malaysian customs authority. The visit took place on the sidelines of his participation at DSA Malaysia 2026.
According to the statement, the engagement comes amid a steady growth in trade between Nigeria and Malaysia. Nigeria’s imports from Malaysia rose significantly from N159.9 billion in 2020 to N716 billion in 2024, with total trade value between both countries reaching approximately N1.82 trillion over a five-year period.
During the visit, Adeniyi was received by the Director-General of the Malaysian customs authority, Dato’ Haji Amran bin Haji Ahmad. Both officials held high-level discussions centred on strengthening institutional collaboration, advancing customs modernisation, and developing coordinated border management frameworks.
The Comptroller-General emphasised the need for a more structured customs-to-customs partnership, noting that the scale and trajectory of trade relations between both countries require formalised cooperation. He described Malaysia as a key trading partner, highlighting major imports such as crude palm oil, refined palm olein, jet fuel, food preparations, machinery, and other industrial inputs.
The statement noted that both sides acknowledged the absence of a formal legal framework guiding bilateral customs cooperation despite longstanding trade relations. To address this, they agreed to initiate processes toward establishing a Mutual Recognition Agreement under the framework of the World Customs Organization through diplomatic channels.
Such an agreement, the statement added, is expected to provide a structured basis for cooperation, enhance mutual trust, and promote reciprocal trade facilitation measures.
The engagement also featured a presentation by the Malaysian customs authority on its evolving border management structure, including the establishment of the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency as an integrated frontline system.
In response, Adeniyi highlighted ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service, including the Authorised Economic Operator programme, which aims to ensure predictable cargo clearance processes, reduce transaction costs, and improve compliance.
Both customs administrations stressed the importance of deeper collaboration in intelligence sharing, enforcement coordination, and the deployment of technology-driven systems to combat illicit trade and transnational trafficking.
The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships as part of its broader modernisation agenda. It noted that outcomes from the engagement are expected to enhance operational capacity, improve trade facilitation, and reinforce border security while supporting Nigeria’s economic growth.
As part of the visit, the Comptroller-General also met with officials at the Nigerian Diplomatic Mission and Defence Office in Malaysia, commending their role in advancing Nigeria’s interests and supporting nationals abroad.
