The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has initiated a two-week Technical Assistance Mission on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) in collaboration with the World Bank Group. This partnership aims to modernise revenue collection mechanisms and facilitate seamless cross-border trade.
Workshop Opening in Abuja
Speaking at the opening of the workshop yesterday in Abuja, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the initiative as a major step towards transforming the service into an intelligence-led and technologically advanced administration. Represented by Assistant Comptroller-General Babatunde Olomu, Adeniyi noted that the training workshop is being executed under the Accelerated Revenue Mobilisation Reform (ARMOR) Programme and will run until 12 June 2026.
Adeniyi explained that modern global customs operations are increasingly shifting away from restrictive transaction-based bottleneck controls at ports, moving towards risk-based, post-clearance interventions that encourage voluntary compliance from importers. He stated, “This mission presents a valuable opportunity to critically assess our existing processes, identify gaps, learn from international best practices, and develop practical solutions that will strengthen our PCA framework and overall compliance management system.”
Key Focus Areas
The Comptroller-General identified risk-based targeting, case management, registry management, quality assurance, and integrated audit systems as the primary focal points of the reform. He added that a refined audit framework would significantly boost public confidence and transparency in state revenue assurance.
World Bank Support
World Bank Task Team Lead, Moses Kajubi, explained that the technical mission was specifically curated to equip Nigerian customs audit officers with internationally recognised methodologies and practical field tools. Kajubi stressed that Nigeria must aggressively leverage structured data analytics and digital case management systems to improve the quality of its audits and trade monitoring. “This engagement will equip participants with practical tools and global best practices that can be applied directly in the field to improve the effectiveness of Post Clearance Audit operations,” he stated.
Lead Consultant’s Remarks
The Lead Consultant for the ARMOR Programme, Colonel Aloke Dutt, emphasised the urgent need for standardised audit methodologies and data-driven accountability. Dutt highlighted that the service must seamlessly integrate advanced technology-driven solutions, such as the newly deployed ‘B’Odogwu’ digital platform, alongside strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to sustain a competency-based audit system across its national formations.
