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Intra-African Trade: Customs, Afreximbank Set To Unlock Economic Potentials

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS and in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank, Afreximbank has strategised to unlock Africa's economic potential through stronger trade among African countries.

By deepening its partnership with the Afreximbank, the NCS intends to strengthen trade facilitation, enhance customs cooperation, and accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi stated this during a working visit to the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi at the Service Headquarters over the weekend in Abuja.

Welcoming the Afreximbank delegation, the CGC noted that the collaboration has continued to yield tangible results in customs modernisation and trade facilitation, particularly through initiatives designed to harmonise customs procedures and improve the movement of goods across the continent.

He said, "We are building a partnership between the two sides, a partnership founded on a single conviction: that Africa's best trading partners are within Africa itself, and our prosperity will be built on the trade we conduct within ourselves. From C-PACT to our ongoing work on trade facilitation, we are turning that conviction into practical cooperation."

The CGC disclosed that the partnership would support Afreximbank's regional transit initiatives, accelerate the development of one-stop border posts along key trade corridors, and promote the adoption of global best practices to strengthen customs administration.

He added that the Service was already recording positive outcomes from the Bank's support for regional transit systems and expressed confidence that the collaboration would further boost Africa's competitiveness and expand opportunities for legitimate trade.

Commending the NCS for its proactive leadership, the President of Afreximbank, Dr George Elombi described the Service's approach as a demonstration of strong institutional commitment to transforming trade across the continent.

He said: "It is nice to see the CGC taking the initiative to drive this kind of engagement, which demonstrates a clear commitment to transforming trade across the continent. We have the resources, and you have the will.”

While reaffirming the Bank's readiness to expand its support for initiatives that facilitate trade and strengthen the implementation of the AfCFTA, he was optimistic that both organisations will make the partnership work for Africa.

The meeting also reviewed the successful collaboration between both institutions on the maiden edition of the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade, C-PACT, held in Abuja in November 2025, which brought together customs administrations, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise customs procedures, strengthen institutional capacity, and improve connectivity across Africa's trading systems.

The engagement provided both institutions with an opportunity to review the progress of their collaboration and identify new areas of cooperation to promote seamless cross-border trade and regional economic integration.

 

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