The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with the World Bank Group under the Accelerated Revenue Mobilisation Reform (ARMOR) Programme, has concluded a two-week Technical Assistance Mission on Post Clearance Audit (PCA), aimed at strengthening compliance management, enhancing revenue assurance, and facilitating legitimate trade through modern audit systems.
The mission, which ran from 1 to 12 June 2026, brought together customs officials and development partners to develop practical strategies for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of Post Clearance Audit operations within the Service.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs at the closing ceremony, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, DCG Tijjani Abe, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to positioning Post Clearance Audit as a strategic tool for promoting voluntary compliance, protecting government revenue, and supporting seamless trade.
He stressed that modern customs administration requires intelligence-driven, risk-based, and internationally compliant audit systems capable of responding to evolving trade dynamics.
DCG Abe noted that the success of the programme would ultimately be measured by the practical application of the knowledge and skills acquired during the mission.
“The true measure of success will not be the completion of this programme, but the extent to which the knowledge acquired translates into improved performance, stronger compliance outcomes and enhanced service delivery,” he said.
He further reiterated the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to sustaining collaboration with the World Bank Group, the World Customs Organisation (WCO), and other development partners in advancing customs reforms and institutional capacity development.
Earlier, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Post Clearance Audit, ACG Babatunde Olomu, expressed confidence in the future of PCA operations within the Service, describing the mission as a major step towards institutional and operational transformation.
According to him, the technical engagements, practical problem-solving sessions, and assessments conducted during the programme have created a solid foundation for modernising the Service’s audit framework.
“The experiences exchanged and outputs developed during this mission will undoubtedly serve as catalysts for a new era of PCA modernisation and development in the NCS. These are not mere administrative instruments; they are the building blocks of a risk-intelligent and internationally compliant PCA system,” he stated.
As part of the mission’s outcomes, participants unveiled several key deliverables, including draft Standard Operating Procedures, a Case File Management System, trader segmentation models, audit checklists, registry management frameworks, and quality assurance mechanisms designed to strengthen audit operations.
An annual audit plan covering 30 audit cases across Customs Headquarters and three operational zones was also presented, with implementation scheduled within a 45-day timeframe.
Speaking on behalf of the World Bank Group, Task Team Lead Moses Kajubi commended the achievements recorded during the mission and highlighted the critical role of institutional backing and continuous professional development in ensuring the success of Post Clearance Audit reforms.
“For PCA to deliver value, we do not only need tools and processes; institutional support and continuous capacity building are equally important,” he said.
Kajubi also reaffirmed the World Bank Group’s commitment to supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in building sustainable audit capabilities and implementing reform initiatives aimed at strengthening compliance, improving revenue generation, and aligning customs operations with global best practices.
The successful conclusion of the mission marks another significant milestone in the ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Customs Service and its development partners to modernise customs administration, enhance operational efficiency, and create a more transparent and business-friendly trade environment in Nigeria.
