The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, briefed journalists at the Presidential Villa on Nigeria’s preparations for the maiden Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Summit, scheduled for 17–19 November in Abuja. He emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directives aim to use trade as a key driver of economic growth, focusing on trade facilitation, port decongestion, and modernization of cross-border systems.

CGC Adeniyi highlighted that Customs will play a central role in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by enforcing rules of origin and ensuring genuine trade benefits. Over 30 Customs administrations, including 22 led by Directors-General, have registered for the summit, and Nigeria will host the Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Ian Sanders, for the first time, reinforcing the country’s leadership in African trade diplomacy.

He also noted Nigeria’s export growth of over 30 percent in the past two years and stressed the need to redirect more trade toward African markets. Adeniyi acknowledged the support of key ministries, AFREXIMBANK, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and other agencies, describing their alignment as a “historic window” for strengthening intra-African commerce, with direct engagement planned with private-sector operators to address trade barriers.