Nigeria Customs CG: Praises BAT Compliance, Supports AEO Program

• Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi of the Nigeria Customs Service visited BAT Nigeria's Ibadan facility, praising its high level of customs compliance and operational transparency.
• Adeniyi advocated for deeper collaboration between the NCS and the manufacturing sector to boost revenue, trade, investment, and exports.
• The Customs CG expressed strong support for BAT Nigeria's planned participation in the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) program, citing its exemplary compliance record.
• BAT Nigeria has invested over $185 million in manufacturing infrastructure and supports more than 350,000 direct and indirect jobs in Nigeria.
• The visit reinforces a June 2026 Memorandum of Understanding between NCS and BAT Nigeria, outlining collaboration on intelligence sharing and enforcement.

The Nigeria Customs CG praises BAT compliance AEO, signaling a clear recognition of the company's adherence to regulatory standards.

Bashir Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), recently underscored the critical need for enhanced collaboration between the NCS and the nation's manufacturing sector. This call for deeper engagement aims to bolster revenue mobilization, facilitate trade, attract investment, and boost exports. The Comptroller-General conveyed these sentiments during a visit to BAT Nigeria's manufacturing facility located in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he conducted an inspection of the company's operations and engaged in discussions with its management regarding customs compliance and manufacturing competitiveness.

During his visit, Mr. Adeniyi noted the significant transformation of the plant since his last visit over 23 years ago as a Customs officer, highlighting it as a testament to sustained investment within Nigeria. He specifically praised BAT Nigeria's robust compliance culture, observing a high degree of governance, transparency, and accountability across its import, factory, and excise operations. The Nigeria Customs CG praises BAT compliance AEO, signaling a clear recognition of the company's adherence to regulatory standards.

The NCS, under Mr. Adeniyi's leadership, is increasingly focused on striking a balance between its revenue collection mandate and its role in trade facilitation. This strategic approach is designed to cultivate a more favorable environment for compliant businesses operating within Nigeria. The Comptroller-General articulated that a combined emphasis on revenue and trade facilitation fosters an environment where business transactions are conducted with greater ease, potentially leading to higher turnover and increased economic activity.

Crucially, Mr. Adeniyi expressed strong support for BAT Nigeria's prospective participation in the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) program, identifying the company as a prime candidate given its exemplary compliance record. He affirmed that the NCS would be pleased to welcome BAT into the fold of AEO-certified entities and committed to engaging relevant officials to expedite the completion of the certification process in line with applicable regulations. This proactive stance highlights the Nigeria Customs Service AEO program as a key mechanism for rewarding diligent Customs compliance manufacturing sector Nigeria.

The visit by Bashir Adeniyi also served to emphasize the broader economic contributions of companies like BAT Nigeria. The company has invested over $185 million in its Nigerian manufacturing infrastructure, with an additional $30 million invested by third-party suppliers supporting its operations. Furthermore, BAT Nigeria's operations and value chain are reported to support more than 350,000 direct and indirect jobs across the country. Mr. Adeniyi also voiced his support for expanding the reach of Nigerian-made products into international markets, pledging that the NCS would facilitate legitimate exports within its purview and collaborate with international counterparts as needed.

Yarub Al-Bahrani, BAT Nigeria’s Managing Director, underscored the importance of ongoing engagement between industry and government for strengthening domestic manufacturing and economic activity. He noted that a modern manufacturing facility's impact extends beyond its immediate operations, influencing employees, suppliers, and logistics networks across the wider economy. This visit follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2026 between the NCS and BAT Nigeria, which established a framework for NCS BAT Nigeria collaboration on intelligence sharing, capacity building, and coordinated enforcement, further solidifying the commitment to a cooperative regulatory environment.

This article signals a clear intent from the Nigeria Customs Service to reward compliant businesses with trade facilitation benefits, specifically mentioning support for the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) program. Lawyers and compliance officers should advise clients on strengthening their customs compliance frameworks and exploring AEO certification, as the NCS appears keen to fast-track such applications for demonstrably compliant entities.

Source: Reporting based on original industry engagement.