Adeniyi Signs Landmark MoUs to Boost Emergency Response, Fight Counterfeiting and Drive Economic Growth
By Chioma Vivian James
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken another major step in strengthening national security, protecting legitimate businesses and advancing trade facilitation through strategic partnerships with key public and private sector institutions.
In a significant demonstration of its collaborative approach to governance, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on Thursday, August 27, 2026, signed separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Federal Fire Service (FFS) and Unilever Nigeria Plc at the Service’s headquarters in Abuja.
The twin agreements reinforce the NCS’s commitment to building stronger institutional partnerships that enhance border security, emergency preparedness, intelligence sharing and sustainable economic development.
Fire Safety Partnership to Protect Lives and National Assets
The MoU with the Federal Fire Service is designed to strengthen fire safety standards across Customs formations nationwide through joint training, emergency preparedness, rapid response mechanisms and information sharing.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, CGC Adeniyi described the partnership as a strategic investment in safeguarding lives, government infrastructure and critical national assets.
> “This agreement is not just a document; it is a commitment to practical actions that will save lives, protect government assets and strengthen our collective emergency response capacity,” Adeniyi stated.
Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, hailed the agreement as a milestone in inter-agency collaboration, assuring that the Fire Service would deploy its expertise and resources to support the safety of Customs personnel and facilities across the country.
Customs, Unilever Join Forces Against Counterfeiting
In a separate landmark agreement with Unilever Nigeria Plc, the Customs Service deepened its collaboration with the private sector to combat counterfeit products, illicit trade and intellectual property violations.
The MoU establishes a framework for intelligence sharing, enabling Customs officers to access verified information on trademarks, packaging specifications, product samples and authentication features for quicker identification of fake goods.
Adeniyi noted that sustained engagement with the private sector continues to provide valuable intelligence that shapes Customs policies and operational decisions while protecting consumers and genuine manufacturers.
He also commended Unilever for its decades-long investment in Nigeria and its significant contribution to industrial growth and job creation.
Unilever Applauds Customs Reforms
Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Tobi Adeniyi, said the company has maintained operations in Nigeria since 1923, localising over 70 per cent of its raw materials and supporting approximately 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.
He praised the Nigeria Customs Service for its ongoing transformation agenda, highlighting its digitalisation drive, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and broader trade facilitation reforms that are improving the business environment.
Collaboration Driving Customs Transformation
The two agreements underscore the Nigeria Customs Service’s renewed emphasis on collaboration, technology, intelligence-led operations and stakeholder engagement under Adeniyi’s leadership.
By strengthening partnerships across government institutions and the organised private sector, the Service is positioning itself as a modern customs administration committed to securing Nigeria’s borders, protecting legitimate commerce and supporting inclusive economic growth.
