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Nigeria, Belarus Forge Alliance to Combat Smuggling, Facilitate Trade
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening international enforcement alliances with the signing of a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters with the Republic of Belarus.
The agreement was concluded on Friday, 27th June 2025, as a side event during the ongoing 145th/146th Sessions of the Customs Co-operation Council at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Headquarters in Brussels.
The MoU was signed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and Mr. Vladimir Orlovsky, Chairman of the State Customs Committee, representing the Government of the Republic of Belarus.
Shortly after the ceremony, CGC Adeniyi described the agreement as a strategic tool to expand the Service’s global customs diplomacy and reform blueprint, particularly in information exchange, joint enforcement, and capacity building.
“We are forging a new chapter in international cooperation, one rooted in mutual trust, operational efficiency, and proactive intelligence,” the CGC stated. “This partnership with Belarus strengthens our ability to combat transnational threats, facilitate secure trade, and modernise procedures in line with global best practices.”
The agreement provides a legal framework for mutual administrative assistance in areas including revenue protection, accurate classification and valuation, prohibition enforcement, and joint operations targeting smuggling and customs fraud. It is underpinned by core international instruments such as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961), the Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971), the CITES Convention, and the 1953 WCO Recommendation on Mutual Administrative Assistance.
CGC also emphasised that this development reflects the increasing adoption of an intelligence-led enforcement model, consistent with the NCS’s goal of positioning Nigeria as a hub of innovative and compliant African customs operations.
“Beyond enforcement, this is a framework for learning, innovation, and solidarity among customs administrations,” CGC Adeniyi added. “Nigeria is proud to stand alongside Belarus in advancing collaborative customs solutions that protect our borders and promote legitimate commerce.”
Chairman Vladimir Orlovsky commended the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service for embracing international partnerships to tackle common challenges. He stated that Belarusians look forward to fruitful exchanges and shared implementation.
“This MoU establishes the foundation for strategic engagement between our administrations. Our shared values in safeguarding trade and combating illicit activity will be the bedrock of this relationship,” he remarked.
Under the agreement’s terms, both parties are expected to collaborate in joint investigations, training, real-time intelligence sharing, and the application of control procedures in accordance with their national laws.
