The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and British American Tobacco Nigeria (BAT) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening efforts to combat illicit tobacco trade, improve regulatory compliance and protect legitimate business investments.

The agreement, signed at the headquarters of the NCS in Abuja, is expected to deepen collaboration between both organisations through intelligence sharing, capacity building and coordinated enforcement actions against smuggling and other forms of illegal cross-border trade.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, described the pact as a strategic framework that would enhance cooperation in tackling illicit trade and ensuring compliance across the tobacco value chain.

According to Adeniyi, the agreement demonstrated the commitment of both parties to safeguarding lawful trade and eliminating the illegal movement of products across Nigeria’s borders.

He said: “We feel delighted that we have been able to sign this instrument, which will provide an effective framework to deepen collaboration between our two organisations.

“I would like to assure you that we will remain committed to both the spirit and the letter of this Memorandum of Understanding and ensure that we wipe out illegal cross-border movements of products within the Nigerian territory.”

Adewale noted that apart from addressing smuggling and illicit trade, the collaboration sent a positive signal to both local and foreign investors about Nigeria’s determination to protect legitimate businesses and create a conducive investment climate.

He explained that illicit trade continued to pose significant challenges globally, depriving governments of revenue, distorting markets, weakening regulatory systems and creating unfair competition for law-abiding businesses.

Under the terms of the agreement, both organisations would work together to improve information exchange, intelligence gathering and enforcement mechanisms aimed at identifying and dismantling illicit trade networks operating within and outside Nigeria.

Also, Managing Director of BAT Nigeria, Yarub Al-Bahrani, said the MoU was a landmark development that reflected the strong relationship between the company and the customs.

He stressed that collaboration between the public and private sectors was necessary in addressing illicit trade and promoting a business environment where compliant enterprises can thrive.

The partnership is expected to foster a more coordinated approach to combating illicit trade within and beyond Nigeria’s borders, strengthen enforcement activities, protect legitimate commerce and support Nigeria’s compliance with both domestic regulations and international obligations