The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Republic of Belarus have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen the fight against smuggling and fraud in both countries.
The agreement was concluded on Friday, as a side event during the ongoing 145th/146th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels.
The MoU was signed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, and Vladimir Orlovsky, Chairman of the State Customs Committee, representing the Government of the Republic of Belarus.
Shortly after the ceremony, CGC Adeniyi described the agreement as a strategic tool to expand the Service’s global customs diplomacy and reform blueprint, particularly in information exchange, joint enforcement, and capacity building.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi stated thus:
“We are forging a new chapter in international cooperation, one rooted in mutual trust, operational efficiency, and proactive intelligence.”
“This partnership with Belarus strengthens our ability to combat transnational threats, facilitate secure trade, and modernise procedures in line with global best practices.”
“The agreement provides a legal framework for mutual administrative assistance in areas including revenue protection, accurate classification and valuation, prohibition enforcement, and joint operations targeting smuggling and customs fraud.
It is underpinned by core international instruments such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), the CITES Convention, and the 1953 WCO Recommendation on Mutual Administrative Assistance.”
“This development reflects the increasing adoption of an intelligence-led enforcement model, consistent with the NCS’s goal of positioning Nigeria as a hub of innovative and compliant African customs operations”.
“Beyond enforcement, this is a framework for learning, innovation, and solidarity among customs administrations.”
“Nigeria is proud to stand alongside Belarus in advancing collaborative customs solutions that protect our borders and promote legitimate commerce.”