The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, has backed the ongoing digital transformation of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), calling for the replication of the Service’s technological innovations across African countries.
Mene made the remarks on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a working visit to the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, where he commended the Service for developing indigenous technology capable of improving customs administration, revenue collection and trade facilitation.
The AfCFTA Secretary-General described the reforms as practical African solutions to some of the longstanding challenges affecting cross-border trade on the continent.
He noted that many African countries still depend on manual customs processes, which contribute to revenue leakages, delays at borders and weak intra-African trade.
According to Mene, the technological advancement recorded by the Nigeria Customs Service provides an opportunity for other African countries to learn from and replicate Nigeria’s experience.
“What we have seen today is truly state-of-the-art. I sincerely congratulate the NCS for what it has achieved within such a short period. We would like to work together and learn from what Nigeria has accomplished because this innovation has inherent benefits not only for Nigeria, but for the entire African continent,” he said.
Mene particularly described the NCS data centre as a strategic continental asset, saying it could serve as a model for countries that lack the financial and technical capacity to establish similar infrastructure.
He said the facility demonstrated Africa’s growing ability to develop and manage critical digital infrastructure while providing solutions tailored to the continent’s trade environment.
Responding, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, welcomed the AfCFTA endorsement and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to expanding its digital transformation agenda.
Adeniyi said the NCS would continue to adopt global best practices while developing technology-driven solutions that address Africa’s peculiar trade needs.
“We sincerely appreciate your passion for promoting intra-African trade and strengthening the interconnectivity of customs systems across the continent. We are not done yet. We will continue to expand the frontiers of innovation, learning from global best practices while developing solutions that advance the peculiar interests of the African continent,” he said.
The Comptroller-General further pledged the Service’s continued collaboration with AfCFTA and other African customs administrations to promote digital integration, facilitate legitimate trade and strengthen regional economic cooperation.
He said the recognition by the continental trade body had further strengthened the NCS resolve to sustain its modernisation programme and position Nigeria as a key contributor to technology-driven customs administration across Africa.
