Nigeria to host C-PACT Conference, aims to strengthen continental trade ties – CGC Adeniyi 

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Nigeria is gearing up to host the maiden Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Conference, a major event aimed at boosting intra-African trade and strengthening customs-led reforms, Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has announced.

Adeniyi made the disclosure on Friday 14 November, 2025 while briefing journalists at the State House Press Pool, Abuja, ahead of the maiden (C-PACT) Conference scheduled for 17–19 November 2025 in Abuja outlined Nigeria’s renewed commitment to deepening continental trade integration and strengthening Customs-led reforms.

Adeniyi

The customs boss revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent approval of his extended mandate comes with specific performance targets, focusing on Trade Facilitation, Port Decongestion, and Modernisation of Nigeria’s Cross-Border Systems.

According to Adeniyi, the President’s policy directives signify a deliberate shift towards leveraging trade as a key driver of economic expansion, aiming to reposition Nigeria as a central hub for intra-African commerce.

“Mr President has made it very clear that he intends to use trade to promote economic development and alleviate poverty. So I was not surprised that the implementation of the continental free trade agreement was specifically mentioned in my renewed mandate.” He said.

CGC Adeniyi further explained that since receiving the directive, he has intensified engagements with his counterparts across Africa, including a recent strategic meeting in Ghana with the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He said the NCS is pushing for greater involvement of Customs administrations in implementing the free trade regime, insisting that sustainable integration cannot happen without Customs at the centre.

He added, “For many years, regional trade arrangements struggled because Customs was not brought in early enough. I have made this point repeatedly: if we must achieve the objectives of AfCFTA, Customs must play its role in enforcing rules of origin, applying preferences, and ensuring that goods genuinely enjoy the benefits of the agreement.”

CGC Adeniyi said the forthcoming C-PACT Summit, which Nigeria will host in Abuja from 17th to 19th November, represents a major step in correcting past gaps and opening direct engagement between African Customs administrations, policymakers and private-sector operators.

He confirmed that more than 30 Customs administrations have registered for the summit, with 22 of them led by Directors-General, adding that the surge in private-sector interest is the most encouraging indicator so far.

The CGC disclosed that Nigeria will, for the first time, host the Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), Ian Sanders, during the conference.

He described the development as a significant recognition of Nigeria’s increasing leadership role in continental trade diplomacy.

He also highlighted the growing momentum in Nigeria’s export performance, saying volumes have increased by more than 30 per cent in the past two years, emphasising, “the current challenge is to redirect more of this trade towards African markets.”

Some participants at the briefing

He acknowledged strong support from the Federal, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, the AFREXIMBANK Bank, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, port authorities and other agencies involved in cross-border trade, noting that their alignment has created “a historic window” for Nigeria to take command of its role in Africa’s economic transformation.

CGC Adeniyi urged the State House Press to help raise public awareness ahead of the Abuja summit, saying Day one of the programme will feature direct conversations with private-sector operators from across Africa, aimed at uncovering persistent barriers to intra-African trade.