The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Netherlands Customs Administration have strengthened bilateral cooperation on trade facilitation, ports’ efficiency and border management between the two countries.

The NCS delegates, during a bilateral working visit to the Netherlands, held between October 29 and 31, 2025, engaged in high-level technical engagements, institutional briefings, and strategic meetings with the Dutch authorities and Customs experts.

The mission commenced at Dutch Customs Headquarters in Rotterdam, where the Nigerian delegation, received by senior officials of the Netherlands Customs Administration, attended a presentation by the National Tariff Classification Team, which focused on tariff and origin procedures within the Dutch system.

This was followed by an in-depth session on risk management, delivered by Dennis van der Wolk of the Customs National Tactical Centre (DLTC). The NCS team also held a meeting with the Head of International Affairs at The Netherlands Customs, where discussions centred on enhancing inter-agency coordination, capacity-building exchange programmes and digital trade processes.

Comptroller-General of the NCS, Bashir Adeniyi, commended the Dutch Customs’ structured approach to classification and risk management, confirming that systematic collaboration and data-driven analysis can enhance compliance and trade facilitation across borders.

Adeniyi said the NCS team’s firsthand experience of the Port of Rotterdam (Portlandis) integrated logistics operations, advanced cargo-tracking systems, and intermodal transport models was an eye-opener on how synergy between Customs and port authorities could create an enabling environment for seamless trade and revenue optimisation.

He further stated that the Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to adopting international best practices that balance enforcement with facilitation, ensuring that legitimate trade thrives while revenue and security interests are safeguarded.

Director-General of International Trade, The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Machiel Zweers, who discussed frameworks for technical assistance and knowledge exchange with the NCS delegates, reaffirmed The Netherlands’ commitment to fostering mutual learning between the two Customs administrations. He described the visit as “a new chapter of institutional partnership built on trust and innovation.”