The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Wednesday hosted a high-level diplomatic cocktail reception in Abuja as part of efforts to strengthen international cooperation, trade relations, and institutional partnerships.
The event, held at the rooftop of the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, brought together ambassadors, high commissioners, heads of missions, senior government officials, and top security chiefs.
Among dignitaries present were the Chief of the Air Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, members of the Customs Management team, and senior officials from key government and security institutions.
Speaking at the reception, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, appreciated the support of international partners in strengthening bilateral relations and promoting global trade cooperation with Nigeria.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Service to supporting diplomatic missions and enhancing collaboration with foreign partners to facilitate effective operations in the country.
According to the CGC, the NCS has continued to expand its international engagement through structured partnerships with more than 20 customs administrations across the world, focusing on knowledge exchange, capacity development, and operational cooperation aimed at improving trade facilitation and border management.
Adeniyi stressed that stronger collaboration among customs administrations, diplomatic missions, and security agencies remains essential to enhancing border security, boosting revenue generation, and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global economy.
He also noted that modern customs administration now operates within a highly interconnected global environment, making continuous engagement and shared responsibility among international partners necessary in addressing emerging challenges in trade, security, and compliance management.
The Customs boss added that the diplomatic reception provided an important platform for dialogue, relationship building, and exploring new areas of cooperation capable of strengthening Nigeria’s trade and diplomatic framework.
The event ended with networking sessions and goodwill messages, as participants commended the Nigeria Customs Service for promoting stronger institutional ties and fostering international collaboration.