Customs, SSDC Seal Alliance for Trade, Security in South-South

By Ekanem ASUQUO

The Nigeria Customs Service and the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) have entered into a strategic partnership to enhance trade, security, and sustainable development across the South-South zone.

During a weekend visit to the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, SSDC Managing Director Usoro Akpabio led her team to meet with Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and senior officers of the Service.

 She commended Customs for its ongoing reforms, modernization efforts, and efficient service delivery, saying the agency remains an indispensable partner in driving regional prosperity.

Akpabio described the South-South as a major hub of Nigeria’s economy, hosting key seaports, oil and gas terminals, industrial free zones, and international borders. She noted that close collaboration with Customs would help improve revenue collection, border management, and infrastructure development while fostering peace and economic inclusion.

Both sides explored opportunities for cooperation, including modernising ports and border facilities, adopting technology-driven cargo clearance systems, promoting investments in free trade zones, and addressing security threats such as oil theft, arms trafficking, human smuggling, and illegal trade in border communities.

The SSDC chief also advocated for initiatives that balance government revenue with the wellbeing of host communities. She proposed joint social responsibility programmes in education, health, and vocational skills for residents of border areas, alongside campaigns to promote compliance and support small and medium-sized enterprises.

Responding, Comptroller-General Adeniyi welcomed the proposals and assured the SSDC of Customs’ readiness to build an enduring partnership that would support regional growth in line with national economic objectives.

The meeting concluded with a joint pledge to promote transparency, collaboration, and shared responsibility in advancing sustainable growth and stability in the South-South region.