Adeniyi Urges Young Customs Officers to Build Global Expertise in Post-Clearance Audit

Adeniyi Urges Young Customs Officers to Build Global Expertise in Post-Clearance Audit

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has urged younger officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to pursue global-level expertise in Post-Clearance Audit (PCA), describing it as a critical pillar of modern customs administration and the future of trade facilitation in Nigeria.

Adeniyi made the call on January 23, 2026, at the conclusion of the five-day World Customs Organization (WCO) Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, held at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja.

Addressing participants, the CGC emphasised that mastery of Post-Clearance Audit techniques provides young officers with a solid foundation for long-term professional growth aligned with international best practices.

“For the younger officers here, this may be your first exposure to this kind of programme. But our respected WCO experts also started from somewhere. Post-Clearance Audit is one of the emerging tools developed by the WCO, and it offers an excellent pathway to begin and shape your career,” Adeniyi said.

He encouraged officers to set clear professional aspirations, noting that dedication to PCA could position them as future global experts.

“I want you to begin to shape your aspirations toward the goal that one day, you too can become recognised Post-Clearance Audit experts,” he added.

The Comptroller-General described the five-day engagement as both insightful and transformative, noting that the interactive sessions exposed officers to advanced PCA tools and methodologies that would significantly enhance their analytical skills and operational efficiency.

According to him, the programme provided participants with deeper insights into modern audit practices, risk management and compliance monitoring, stressing that the knowledge gained would support trade facilitation while protecting government revenue and national economic interests.

Adeniyi reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to sustained reforms, effective collaboration with international partners and the adoption of modern customs tools to align Nigeria’s trade processes with global standards.

Also speaking, WCO Trade Facilitation Expert, James Clark, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its strong reform orientation and willingness to embrace modern customs practices, noting the Service’s notable progress within a short timeframe.

Clark stressed the importance of institutional commitment, continuous capacity building and consistent application of Post-Clearance Audit tools to achieve lasting impact.

“We always look forward to what we call the impact level — a stage where a more effective and facilitative trading environment has been created. I have the utmost confidence in your ability to achieve this,” he said.

He thanked participants for their active engagement throughout the programme and encouraged continued collaboration with WCO experts beyond the training.

The WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, funded by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom, was held from January 19 to 23, 2026, with a focus on strengthening customs reforms, particularly in Post-Clearance Audit and risk-based compliance management.

The conclusion of the programme marks another milestone in the Nigeria Customs Service’s efforts to enhance ease of doing business, improve compliance, and position Nigeria as a competitive and reliable trading partner in the global economy.