CGC Adeniyi Champions ‘Nigeria First’ Policy To Strengthen Trade , Security
CGC Adeniyi Champions ‘Nigeria First’ Policy To Strengthen Trade , Security
Frank Odinukaeze
Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has called for the mainstreaming of the “Nigeria First” initiative as a strategic policy to bolster cross-border trade and reinforce national security.
Delivering a keynote address at the annual conference of the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, CGC Adeniyi urged stakeholders to embrace a synergy between trade facilitation and security imperatives, describing it as critical to Nigeria’s economic resilience.
Speaking on the theme “Cross-Border Trade and Security Implications on the Nigerian Economy: Taking Advantage of Global Trade Dynamics,” Adeniyi revealed that Nigeria recorded a staggering trade volume of ₦196.94 trillion in 2024—a 179.3% increase from the previous year—despite persistent security threats.
CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Delivering a keynote address at the annual conference of the Obafemi Awolowo University Muslim Graduates’ Association (UNIFEMGA) in Ile-Ife, Osun
“Nigeria’s economic prosperity hinges delicately on our ability to strike an optimal balance between security imperatives and trade facilitation,” he said.
Highlighting the Customs Service’s performance, he noted that the agency generated ₦6.1 trillion in revenue in 2024, exceeding its target by 20.2%. He attributed the achievement to innovation and resilience in the face of operational challenges.
Adeniyi outlined the diverse security issues affecting trade across Nigeria’s regions: insurgency in the Northeast disrupting trade corridors, banditry and kidnapping in the Northwest affecting mining and livestock, secessionist tensions in the Southeast impacting manufacturing, and rampant smuggling in the Southwest. He disclosed that the NCS intercepted contraband worth ₦35.29 billion in 2024 and ₦7.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025 alone.
“These regional security challenges present Nigeria with a choice: remain trapped in a cycle of reactive responses or transform our hard-earned expertise into strategic advantage within the AfCFTA framework,” he said.
He affirmed that the “Nigeria First” principle is already being implemented in Customs operations, notably through the exclusive use of locally assembled vehicles for official duties—a move aimed at supporting domestic manufacturing and reducing foreign exchange outflows.
Unveiling a comprehensive roadmap, the CGC outlined short-term plans to modernise border posts at Seme-Krake, Jibia-Maradi, and Mfum-Ekok; medium-term goals to develop secure trade corridors; and long-term strategies to establish Special Economic Zones in border communities.
Responding to recent global trade challenges, including a 14% reciprocal U.S. tariff on Nigerian non-oil exports, Adeniyi urged Nigerian businesses to explore intra-African opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and adopt innovations like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which allows trade in local currencies.
“Through systematic application of these principles, Nigeria can establish itself as the secure gateway to West African markets, leveraging security investments to strengthen our economic position in regional and global trade,” he concluded.
The lecture drew a distinguished audience, including Osun State Governor Senator Ademola Adeleke, the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and Obafemi Awolowo University Vice Chancellor Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire.
