Nigeria Gears Up Preparations for C-PACT Conference as Scheduled Date Approaches

.CGC Adeniyi Briefs Journalists

ZAINAB JUNAID

Nigeria is gearing up preparations for the forth coming maiden Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Conference scheduled for 17–19 November 2025 in Abuja.

The Conference, which aims to deepen continental trade integration and strengthen Customs-led reforms, has over 30 Customs administrations registered, with 22 led by Directors-General.

Breifing journalists on the forth coming event on Friday, 14 November, 2025, at the State House Press Pool, Abuja, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi MFR PhD emphasised that the summit represents a major step in correcting operational challenges and opening direct engagement between African Customs administrations, policymakers and private-sector operators.

He also identified Nigeria’s commitment to African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, stressing the need for Customs administrations to play major role in enforcing rules of origin, applying preferences, and ensuring that goods genuinely enjoy the benefits of the agreement.

The CGC, who spoke under the State House “Meet the Press” platform, stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent approval of his extension in Service came with clear performance targets focusing on trade facilitation, port decongestion, and modernisation of Nigeria’s cross-border systems.

He said the President’s policy directives reflect a deliberate shift towards using trade as a major engine of economic expansion, saying the administration is determined to reposition Nigeria as a central hub for intra-African commerce.

“Mr President has made it very clear that he intends to use trade to promote economic development and alleviate poverty. So I was not surprised that the implementation of the continental free trade agreement was specifically mentioned in my renewed mandate.” He said.

The Customs CG further explained that since receiving the directive, he has intensified engagements with his counterparts across Africa, including a recent strategic meeting in Ghana with the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He said the NCS is pushing for greater involvement of Customs administrations in implementing the free trade regime, insisting that sustainable integration cannot happen without Customs at the centre.

To him, “For many years, regional trade arrangements struggled because Customs was not brought in early enough. I have made this point repeatedly: if we must achieve the objectives of AfCFTA, Customs must play its role in enforcing rules of origin, applying preferences, and ensuring that goods genuinely enjoy the benefits of the agreement.”

The CGC disclosed that Nigeria will, for the first time, host the Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Ian Saunders, during the conference. He described the development as a significant recognition of Nigeria’s increasing leadership role in continental trade diplomacy.

He also highlighted the growing momentum in Nigeria’s export performance, saying volumes have increased by more than 30 per cent in the past two years, emphasising, “the current challenge is to redirect more of this trade towards African markets.”

He acknowledged strong support from the Federal, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, the AFREXIMBANK Bank, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, port authorities and other agencies involved in cross-border trade, noting that their alignment has created “a historic window” for Nigeria to take command of its role in Africa’s economic transformation.

CGC Adeniyi urged the State House Press to help raise public awareness ahead of the Abuja summit, saying the first day of the programme will feature direct conversations with private-sector operators from across Africa to uncover the persistent barriers they face in moving goods across the continent.