Brussels, Belgium – June 28, 2025
In a strategic move to deepen international enforcement collaboration, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of Belarus on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters.
The bilateral agreement was formally signed on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels, during the ongoing 145th/146th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, represented Nigeria, while Mr. Vladimir Orlovsky, Chairman of the State Customs Committee, signed on behalf of the Belarusian government.
Speaking shortly after the signing, CGC Adeniyi emphasized the significance of the MoU as part of Nigeria’s evolving customs diplomacy agenda, noting that it will play a vital role in enhancing information exchange, joint enforcement efforts, and capacity building initiatives between both nations.
“This agreement marks another important step in our efforts to expand Nigeria’s global customs footprint and adopt best practices in border security, revenue collection, and trade facilitation,” Adeniyi stated.
The MoU aligns with the Nigeria Customs Service’s broader reform strategy, which seeks to promote international cooperation and adapt to emerging challenges in cross-border trade and customs enforcement.
The partnership is expected to foster greater operational synergy between both countries’ customs administrations and support the global fight against smuggling, illicit trade, and customs-related crime.
