The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has opened a new chapter of collaboration with the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), pledging to work closely with the body to drive economic transformation in the oil-rich region
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the Service views the commission as “a catalyst for regional and national growth,” assuring that Customs would engage actively in building partnerships to advance its mandate
He gave the assurance in Abuja when the SSDC Managing Director, Usoro Akpabio, led her team on a courtesy visit to the Customs Headquarters.
The urgency of issues before us requires consistent dialogue and broader stakeholder participation,” Adeniyi said. He disclosed that Customs may set up a joint working team with the Commission to strengthen collaboration in trade facilitation, border management, and regional integration.
Adeniyi also highlighted the Service’s expanding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, including investments in education, healthcare, and infrastructure in host communities, saying the move reflects Customs’ drive for inclusive development.
Akpabio, who took office less than a month ago, welcomed the partnership, describing Customs as “a critical ally” for the Commission’s ambitious development agenda.
With its footprint in ports, free trade zones, and oil and gas operations, Customs’ involvement is essential to the success of our blueprint,” she said. “The Commission will build a strategic alliance with Customs that emphasizes transparency, regional growth, and long-term national impact.
The SSDC’s mandate spans the blue economy, agriculture, infrastructure, human capital development, and utilities across the South-South zone.
Both institutions agreed to deepen cooperation as part of efforts to unlock the region’s economic potential and contribute to Nigeria’s overall development agenda.
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