NCS to Host CGC Conference, C-PACT 2026 in Abuja to Boost Border Security, Trade

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will host the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Conference from December 7 to 8, 2026, and the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) 2026 Conference from December 9 to 11 in Abuja, to strengthen border security, facilitate legitimate trade and advance regional economic integration.

The two conferences are expected to bring together government officials, Customs administrations, trade stakeholders, security agencies, development partners and technology providers to explore practical solutions to border management challenges and promote cooperation across Africa.

According to a press statement issued on Sunday, October 25, 2026, by the NCS National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, the CGC Conference is themed “Securing Borders, Enabling Trade: A Customs Commitment to Safer Communities.”

The conference will provide a platform to review the Service’s modernisation initiatives, assess progress made on previous commitments and strengthen the link between effective Customs administration, national security and trade facilitation.

Its sub-themes are “Enabling African Trade: Digital Customs, Trusted Corridors and Seamless Payments” and “Secure Borders, Safer Communities: Intelligence, Partnership and Trust at the Frontline.”

The programme will feature a review of commitments made in 2025 and achievements recorded in 2026, presentations on Customs modernisation, the presentation of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) certificates, and discussions on measuring the impact of reforms on trade and revenue generation.

Participants will also examine intelligence-led enforcement, emerging border threats, inter-agency collaboration and the professional responsibilities of Customs officers in protecting communities and sustaining public trust.

A major focus of the national conference will be how digital transformation and stakeholder partnerships can improve Customs operations and deliver measurable results.

Stakeholders expected to participate in the discussions include AEO beneficiaries, the National Single Window Secretariat, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), excise-sector representatives and other relevant institutions. Their deliberations will assess the outcomes of ongoing reforms and identify areas requiring further improvement.

The second day will focus on coordinated responses to emerging and interconnected border threats, with participation from key security and enforcement institutions, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the NCS, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

Building on the national conference, C-PACT 2026 will extend the discussions to the continental level under the theme “One Border, Interconnected Systems: Advancing Customs Cooperation through One-Stop Border Posts.”

The conference will provide a platform for Customs administrations, policymakers, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Regional Economic Communities, border management agencies, development partners, technology providers and private-sector stakeholders to advance cooperation and improve the efficiency of cross-border trade.

Deliberations will address persistent challenges affecting trade across African borders, including fragmented procedures, duplicated controls, limited information exchange, incompatible digital systems and inadequate coordination among border agencies.

Participants will explore how One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), supported by interconnected Customs platforms, coordinated risk management, harmonised procedures and secure information exchange, can reduce delays and trade costs while improving the predictability and efficiency of goods movement along African trade corridors.

The C-PACT 2026 programme will feature high-level policy dialogues, strategic discussions among Customs administrations, technical sessions on interconnected borders, presentations on operational experiences from existing and emerging OSBPs, technology demonstrations and discussions on public-private partnerships for financing and delivering modern border infrastructure.

The conference will also examine the implementation of key AfCFTA initiatives, including the AfCFTA Integrated Transit System, the Single Bond Guarantee Scheme and the Electronic Certificate of Origin system.

According to the statement, the conference is expected to produce practical recommendations, identify priority technology and investment opportunities, strengthen institutional partnerships and develop an implementation-oriented roadmap for interconnected, digitally enabled border systems across Africa.

The NCS, under the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and its management team, reaffirmed its commitment to working with national institutions, regional partners and international stakeholders to secure borders, facilitate legitimate trade and support Africa’s economic integration agenda.

Through the two conferences, the Service aims to strengthen accountability for ongoing reforms and promote practical solutions that align border security with trade facilitation, technological innovation and safer communities.

The outcomes are expected to contribute to improved Customs operations, stronger regional cooperation and the achievement of AfCFTA objectives of building a more integrated, competitive and prosperous African market

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