The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and British American Tobacco Nigeria (BAT) have entered into a formal partnership aimed at intensifying the fight against illicit tobacco trade, enhancing regulatory compliance, and safeguarding legitimate commercial investments in the country.
The agreement was signed at the NCS headquarters in Abuja and is designed to deepen cooperation between both institutions through intelligence sharing, joint enforcement actions, and capacity building targeted at curbing smuggling and other forms of illegal cross-border trade.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, described the memorandum of understanding (MoU) as a strategic step toward reinforcing institutional collaboration in tackling illicit activities within Nigeria’s trade ecosystem.
He said the pact reflects a shared commitment to protecting lawful commerce and ensuring stricter compliance across the tobacco supply chain.
“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,” he said.
Adeniyi further pledged sustained enforcement efforts against illegal trade flows, stressing institutional resolve to uphold both regulatory intent and operational execution.
“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,” he added.
He also noted that beyond enforcement, the agreement sends a strong message to investors regarding Nigeria’s commitment to protecting legitimate businesses and maintaining a stable investment environment.
According to him, illicit trade continues to present significant economic and regulatory challenges globally, including revenue losses for governments, market distortions, weakened regulatory systems, and unfair competition against compliant operators.
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| The Managing Director of BAT Nigeria, Yarub Al-Bahrani and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi during the signing of the MOU in Abuja recently. |
Managing Director of BAT Nigeria, Yarub Al-Bahrani, described the agreement as a milestone that reflects a long-standing working relationship between both parties and a renewed commitment to tackling illicit trade.
He emphasised the importance of public-private sector collaboration in addressing trade-related crimes and promoting a regulatory environment where compliant businesses can operate effectively and competitively.
The partnership is expected to strengthen enforcement capacity, improve cross-border monitoring, and support Nigeria’s compliance with both domestic regulations and international trade obligations, while reinforcing efforts to protect legitimate commerce across the tobacco value chain.