World Bank boosts customs audit capacity

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By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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ABUJA — The World Bank has commenced a two-week training workshop aimed at strengthening the Post-Clearance Audit, PCA, capacity of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS.

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The Technical Assistance Mission, organised under the Accelerated Revenue Mobilisation Reform, ARMOR, Programme, is designed to enhance the NCS’s compliance management, revenue assurance and trade facilitation through modern audit practices.

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The workshop, which began on June 1, will run until June 12, 2026, at the Customs headquarters in Abuja.

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Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, Assistant Comptroller-General, ACG, Babatunde Olomu described the mission as a significant step towards advancing the Service’s modernisation agenda and strengthening its capacity as a technology-driven, intelligence-led and globally competitive customs administration.

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Olomu noted that modern customs administrations increasingly rely on intelligence-led, risk-based and post-clearance interventions that encourage voluntary compliance while supporting legitimate trade and economic growth.

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According to him, the programme provides an opportunity to assess existing processes, identify operational gaps, adopt international best practices and develop practical solutions to strengthen the Service’s Post-Clearance Audit framework.

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He identified risk-based targeting, case management, registry management, quality assurance, standardisation and integrated audit systems as key focus areas of the training.

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“Effective Post-Clearance Audit enables Customs to move beyond transaction-based controls to a strategic compliance management approach that enhances revenue assurance, facilitates legitimate trade, strengthens transparency and boosts public confidence,” he said.

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Olomu commended the Comptroller-General for his commitment to modernisation and capacity building, while also appreciating the World Bank and other development partners for their continued support for Customs reforms.

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He urged participants to actively engage in the programme and ensure that lessons learnt translate into measurable improvements in daily operations.

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Speaking at the event, the World Bank Task Team Lead, Moses Kajubi, said the mission was designed to strengthen the capacity of Post-Clearance Audit officers through modern customs practices, practical audit tools and internationally recognised methodologies.

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Kajubi explained that participants would be exposed to global best practices, case management techniques and compliance management strategies adaptable to Nigeria’s operational environment.

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He stressed the importance of leveraging technology, structured case management systems and data-driven decision-making to improve audit quality, compliance monitoring and trade facilitation outcomes.

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“This engagement will equip participants with practical tools and global best practices that can be applied directly in the field to improve the effectiveness of Post-Clearance Audit operations,” he said.

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Kajubi expressed confidence that the programme would strengthen institutional capacity and contribute significantly to the Nigeria Customs Service’s modernisation objectives.

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Also speaking, Lead Consultant for the ARMOR Programme, Colonel Aloke Dutt, said the mission would enhance trade facilitation, optimise revenue generation and improve compliance management through a more structured and unified approach to Post-Clearance Audit.

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He emphasised the need for standardised audit methodologies, effective monitoring mechanisms and greater integration of data in customs operations.

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