The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on 29 April 2026 held a diplomatic engagement with the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Abuja, aimed at strengthening trade relations and customs cooperation between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates.

During the meeting, the United Arab Emirates Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Salem Saeed, congratulated the Comptroller General on his recent election as Chairman of the World Customs Organization, describing the development as a notable achievement for Nigeria and the African continent.

The Ambassador commended the leadership of the Comptroller General and his management team, observing that collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the United Arab Emirates has yielded measurable progress, particularly in the expansion of non oil trade. He noted that trade volumes between both countries recorded significant growth between 2023 and 2025, despite prevailing global and operational challenges.

He further disclosed that a memorandum of understanding has been submitted to deepen institutional cooperation between the Nigeria Customs Service and the United Arab Emirates Customs, with particular emphasis on trade facilitation and modern customs administration practices.

Describing the Comptroller General as a highly regarded partner of the Embassy, the Ambassador stated that the Customs leadership has contributed meaningfully to sustaining Nigeria’s current trade performance and bilateral confidence.

In his response, the Comptroller General expressed appreciation for the reception and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. He stated that the engagement represents a further step towards consolidating an already cordial relationship between both countries.

He emphasised the importance of enhancing trade efficiency, particularly for small and medium scale enterprises, and indicated readiness to utilise diplomatic channels to promote closer cooperation between customs administrations.

The Comptroller General further noted that trade relations between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates have improved considerably over the past two years. He reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service commitment to continuous engagement with traders and service providers to improve operational efficiency and support legitimate trade.

He also highlighted the need for enhanced collaboration between both countries in addressing practices that undermine Nigeria’s international reputation, stressing that stronger institutional cooperation would contribute to improved security, mutual trust, and economic development.