Customs sets to host 2026 CGC’s Conference, C-PACT in Abuja
Omeiza Bilal
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to host two landmark gatherings in Abuja this December: the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Conference from December 7 to 8, followed immediately by the inaugural Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) 2026 Conference from December 9 to 11.
Under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the dual event underscores the Service’s commitment to strengthening border security, facilitating legitimate trade, and driving continental economic integration.
According to a press statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD, the conferences will generate actionable roadmaps to build safer borders, lower trade costs, and accelerate Africa’s path toward a unified, prosperous market.
The CGC’s Conference, themed “Securing Borders, Enabling Trade: A Customs Commitment to Safer Communities,” will evaluate the progress of ongoing modernization efforts, assess outcomes from 2025 and 2026 commitments, and reinforce the vital link between efficient customs administration and national security.
Key activities during the national conference include high-level discussions on intelligence-led enforcement, emerging frontline threats, inter-agency collaboration, and digital transformation. It will also feature the official presentation of Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certificates to compliant trade partners.
Stakeholders from across the trade spectrum—including the National Single Window Secretariat, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), and excise-sector representatives—will engage in performance reviews. Security agencies such as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) will also join sessions dedicated to combating converging border threats.
Transitioning from national priorities to continental strategy, the C-PACT 2026 Conference will convene under the theme “One Border, Interconnected Systems: Advancing Customs Cooperation through One-Stop Border Posts.”
Organized in collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Regional Economic Communities, and international development partners, C-PACT 2026 aims to tackle cross-border trade bottlenecks, such as duplicated controls, incompatible digital platforms, and fragmented border procedures.
Focus areas include expanding One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), integrating risk management networks, and advancing key AfCFTA initiatives—notably the AfCFTA Integrated Transit System, the Single Bond Guarantee Scheme, and the Electronic Certificate of Origin.
