Nigeria Customs Signs Bilateral Cooperation Agreement with Belarus to Boost Global Enforcement Alliances
BRUSSELS – June 27, 2025 — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its international collaboration efforts with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters with the Republic of Belarus.
The landmark agreement was formalised on Friday, June 27, as a side event during the 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 Adewale Adeniyi, and the Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus, Mr. Vladimir Orlovsky, marking a new chapter in global customs diplomacy and enforcement synergy.
Speaking shortly after the signing, CGC Adeniyi described the agreement as a strategic move aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s customs capabilities in the areas of joint enforcement, information exchange, and capacity building.
“We are forging a new chapter in international cooperation—one rooted in mutual trust, operational efficiency, and proactive intelligence,” Adeniyi stated. “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 robust legal framework for mutual administrative assistance between the two countries. Key areas of collaboration include protection of revenue, accurate classification and valuation of goods, enforcement of import and export prohibitions, and coordinated efforts to combat smuggling and customs fraud.
The MoU is grounded in several international instruments, including the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the WCO’s 1953 Recommendation on Mutual Administrative Assistance.
Adeniyi noted that the agreement aligns with the NCS’s broader reform agenda, which focuses on intelligence-led enforcement and positions Nigeria as a regional leader in customs innovation and compliance.
“Beyond enforcement, this is a framework for shared learning, innovation, and solidarity among customs administrations,” he said. “Nigeria is proud to stand with Belarus in advancing collaborative customs solutions that protect our borders and promote legitimate trade.”
In his remarks, Chairman Vladimir Orlovsky praised the Nigeria Customs Service for its openness to international partnerships and stressed the importance of building strong cross-border cooperation.
“This MoU establishes the foundation for strategic engagement between our administrations,” Orlovsky stated. “Our shared values in safeguarding trade and combating illicit activity will be the bedrock of this relationship.”
Under the agreement, both countries will collaborate on joint investigations, capacity development, real-time intelligence sharing, and application of control procedures—all in line with their respective national laws and international commitments.
The MoU signals a deepening of Nigeria’s commitment to global customs cooperation, setting a strong precedent for future partnerships that strengthen enforcement and facilitate lawful international trade.
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