The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) has said that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading government agencies in trade facilitation, following its outstanding performance in the 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Compliance Assessment.
The assessment report, released on July 3, 2026, ranked the NCS among the country’s best-performing Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) for fully complying with the standards prescribed under the Business Facilitation Act.
PEBEC Director-General, Zahrah Audu, commended the Service for meeting all compliance requirements while demonstrating significant improvements in the speed, efficiency and responsiveness of its trade-related services.
“The Nigeria Customs Service distinguished itself by meeting all the required standards while recording notable improvements in the timeliness and efficiency of its response to trade-related matters,” Audu said.
She noted that the achievement reflects the Service’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the creation of a more business-friendly trading environment.
According to Audu, the performance aligns with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business agenda and underscores the NCS’s sustained efforts to enhance operational efficiency and improve stakeholders’ experience.
She further disclosed that 98 per cent of the 69 MDAs assessed under the Business Facilitation Act now meet the expected service delivery standards, describing the outcome as clear evidence of the positive impact of the ongoing reforms aimed at improving public service delivery across the country.
The recognition follows a series of strategic reforms implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service to modernize customs administration. These include the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme and the Advance Ruling System.
The initiatives have streamlined import and export processes, reduced cargo clearance time, strengthened transparency in customs operations and enhanced Nigeria’s trade facilitation framework, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to supporting economic growth, facilitating legitimate trade and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global trading system.
