Customs Comptroller-General Applauds BAT Nigeria’s Compliance, Backs Deeper Industry Collaboration
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has called for deeper collaboration between Customs and the manufacturing sector, saying effective revenue mobilisation and trade facilitation must work hand-in-hand to support investment, exports and economic growth.
The Comptroller-General made the call during a visit to BAT Nigeria’s manufacturing facility in Ibadan, where he inspected the Company’s operations and engaged management on customs compliance, excise administration, exports and manufacturing competitiveness.
Reflecting on a previous visit to the facility more than 23 years ago as a Customs officer, when the Federal Government’s agenda was to promote backward integration and import substitution, the Comptroller-General said the growth of the operations at the facility demonstrates what sustained investment can achieve in Nigeria. Speaking to the transformation of the facility since the last time he visited “When you talk about a Nigerian operation of a multinational company, and you see the facility that existed more than 20 years ago and return to find that the story has continued to evolve positively, as a Nigerian, you cannot but be delighted,” he said.
The Customs chief commended BAT Nigeria’s compliance culture, noting that his inspection of the Company’s import, factory and excise operations revealed a high standard of governance and transparency.
“I know the level of compliance that you have demonstrated, not just in the importation of your raw materials, but also in your factory and excise operations. What I have seen today reflects a high level of transparency, governance and accountability,” the Comptroller-General stated.
He emphasized that Customs is increasingly focused on balancing revenue collection with trade facilitation to create a more conducive environment for compliant businesses.
“The more you pay attention to revenue and trade facilitation together, the more you create an environment where business can be done with greater ease, and the higher the potential for turnover and economic activity,” he said.
The Comptroller-General also expressed support for BAT Nigeria’s planned participation in the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, describing the Company as a strong candidate based on its compliance track record.
“We will be more than happy to welcome you into the family of AEO-certified companies,” he said, adding that Customs would engage relevant officials to facilitate the timely completion of the process within applicable regulations.
He also expressed support for the expansion of Nigerian-made products into international markets, saying Customs would continue to facilitate legitimate exports within its mandate and work with relevant international counterparts where necessary.
The visit comes against the backdrop of BAT Nigeria’s expanding manufacturing and export operations. The Company says it has invested more than US$185 million in manufacturing infrastructure in Nigeria, while third-party suppliers supporting its operations have invested more than US$30 million. The Company’s operations and value chain support more than 350,000 direct and indirect jobs across Nigeria.
Speaking during the visit, BAT Nigeria’s Managing Director, Yarub Al-Bahrani, said sustained engagement between industry and government remained important as Nigeria seeks to strengthen domestic manufacturing and economic activity.
“A modern manufacturing facility is not an island. Its impact extends across the wider economy through the people it employs, the suppliers it supports and the logistics networks within its value chain,” Al-Bahrani said.
He said the Company’s engagement with Customs extended beyond regulatory compliance to include cooperation around sustainable manufacturing, trade and economic development.
The visit also comes on the heels of a June 2026 Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria Customs Service and BAT Nigeria, which established a framework for collaboration on intelligence sharing, capacity building, coordinated enforcement and regulatory compliance.
