Customs, MAN Forge New Agenda for Stronger Engagement


The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has called for a new era of collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), stressing the need to build a lasting partnership rooted in mutual understanding and shared solutions.

Adeniyi made this known on Thursday, September 18, 2025, when MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, paid him a courtesy visit at the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja. He emphasised that sustainable cooperation can only be achieved when institutions engage with clarity, commitment, and broader stakeholder participation.

The CG of Customs commended MAN’s structured internal processes, where issues are debated across its ten sectors and more than sixty sub-sectors before being harmonised into policy positions.

 “The only way to appreciate what can bring lasting friendship, collaboration and partnership is when we understand from both sides what the issues are,” Adeniyi said. “When you are challenged, you become quite sensitive to everything that will get you out of the situation you find yourself in.”


He also highlighted several initiatives the Service has rolled out to enhance trade facilitation, including the Authorised Economic Operator programme, Advanced Ruling, a Corporate Social Responsibility framework, the indigenous B’Odogwu platform, and the creation of special desks.

Looking ahead, Adeniyi disclosed preparations for a major stakeholders’ conference in November to chart a path for Nigeria’s effective participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

 “We are looking forward to a situation where we will set an agenda that goes beyond the issues on the ground. After your consultations, you can get back to us so that we can fix a date and venue for a wider meeting. If it would make it easier, we are ready to travel to Lagos to meet manufacturers at their base. We need to keep this conversation going without delay,” he added.



On his part, MAN’s Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadiri, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to deepening ties with Customs, describing the Service as an indispensable partner in addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges.

 “I am happy that once again we are reigniting what we used to have. Many developments in the economy require us to accelerate this engagement, expand it and make it work,” he said.



Ajayi-Kadiri praised Adeniyi’s openness to dialogue, noting that MAN’s structured policy approach ensures that manufacturers’ realities are captured in every engagement. He stressed that the association’s priority is constructive engagement, not confrontation, especially at a time when industries remain under significant pressure.

Both leaders agreed that setting a new agenda will provide a platform for robust dialogue, practical problem-solving, and stronger alignment between Customs and the manufacturing sector , a partnership they described as critical for Nigeria’s economic resilience.


#NigeriaCustoms #ManufacturersAssociation #TradeFacilitation #AfCFTA #EconomicGrowth #Manufacturing #Partnership #CustomsService #NigeriaEconomy

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