Nigeria is stepping up trade efficiency with the UK—this time through smarter data, tech, and tighter customs cooperation.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened ties with the UK’s His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to improve trade facilitation and digital border management.
The move follows a high-level meeting in London under the Nigeria-UK Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), held alongside President Bola Tinubu’s state visit.
Talks focused on modernising customs operations, boosting transparency in trade data, and deploying technology to streamline cross-border trade.
A major concern? A big gap in trade figures—while Nigeria recorded about £504 million in UK imports in 2024, the UK reported exports worth £1.7 billion to Nigeria.
To fix this, both sides plan to introduce a pre-arrival data exchange system to improve tracking, compliance, and risk management.
The UK also showcased its use of AI-driven tools and real-time analytics, with both countries agreeing to deepen collaboration in tech and capacity building.
Other outcomes include plans for a joint customs assistance framework and stronger technical cooperation under ETIP.
NCS says the partnership will boost efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness in Nigeria’s trade ecosystem—key to driving economic growth.
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