Nigeria, UAE Deepen Trade Ties as Customs Chiefs Hold Strategic Talks

Published By Ayshatu S Rabo On May 1, 2026

Nigeria, UAE Deepen Trade Ties as Customs Chiefs Hold Strategic Talks

The Nigeria Customs Service and the United Arab Emirates have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and customs cooperation following a high-level diplomatic engagement in Abuja.

The meeting, held between the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed, focused on enhancing trade facilitation, customs administration, and economic collaboration between both countries.

During the engagement, the Ambassador congratulated Adeniyi on his emergence as Chairman of the World Customs Organization (WCO), describing the achievement as a significant milestone for Nigeria and the African continent.

He commended the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service, noting that the partnership between both countries has yielded positive outcomes, particularly in the growth of non-oil trade.

“We have achieved a substantial increase in non-oil trade from 2023 to 2025. Despite challenges, this remains one of the strongest bilateral relationships we have maintained,” he said.

The Ambassador also revealed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been proposed to further strengthen cooperation between the Nigeria Customs Service and UAE Customs, especially in areas of trade facilitation and operational collaboration.

In his remarks, Adeniyi expressed appreciation for the warm reception and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening its partnership with the UAE.

“We are happy to work with the UAE to promote the true nature of trade. We aim to make trade easier, particularly for small and medium enterprises, while leveraging diplomatic channels to strengthen cooperation among customs administrations,” he stated.

The Comptroller-General noted that trade relations between both countries have improved significantly in recent years, adding that the Service will continue to engage stakeholders to enhance efficiency and promote legitimate trade.

He also stressed the importance of joint efforts in addressing activities that could undermine Nigeria’s global image, emphasizing that stronger collaboration would enhance security, build trust, and drive sustainable economic growth.

The engagement marks another step in ongoing efforts to consolidate Nigeria’s trade partnerships and strengthen international customs cooperation.