Customs partners WCO, UK on corruption risk mapping, SOPs

The Nigeria Customs Service has strengthened its internal anti-corruption framework through a workshop focused on corruption risk analysis, risk mapping, and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Speaking at the workshop organised by the Service in collaboration with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the United Kingdom International Development in Abuja, the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, said the mission under the WCO is an important step in strengthening institutional growth, integrity, and corruption risk management.

Adeniyi further stated that the exercise had nothing to do with fault-finding or apportioning blame; rather, it allowed the system to look at itself, identify weaknesses, and develop sustainable solutions.

According to the CGC, the assessment was designed to cover key Customs processes, including regulatory and administrative procedures, clearance processes, inspection and examination, enforcement and compliance, procurement and human resource management.

“The purpose of what we have therefore been doing with our partners was to identify such areas of vulnerabilities, assess the associated risk and develop practical measures to mitigate them,” he stated.

The CGC affirmed that the Service will continue to support measures that strengthen transparency, accountability, internal controls, process simplification, and the use of technology to reduce unnecessary discretion. “A customs administration that is transparent, that is predictable and accountable, is better positioned to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance, and enhance public confidence,” he noted.

The WCO Lead Technical Expert, Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, Arman Zhalitov, urged the working group to champion endorsement of the workshop outcomes, which include a comprehensive action plan outlining clear steps to advance trade facilitation and strengthen the anti-corruption agenda.

Also speaking, David Tanenbaum, the WCO Programme Manager for the Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, outlined achievements in AEO, post-clearance audit, and the time-release study, noting that integrity does not exist in a vacuum.

He said the achievements demonstrate that the partnership is delivering tangible institutional and operational results. “Our work continues to bring us closer to a systematic, preventive approach to identifying and managing corruption risks within customs operations,” he said.