Customs, World Bank Conclude Post-Clearance Audit Reform Mission

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the World Bank Group have concluded a two-week technical assistance mission aimed at strengthening Post Clearance Audit (PCA) operations and improving revenue assurance, compliance management and trade facilitation.

The programme, conducted under the World Bank’s Accelerated Revenue Mobilisation Reform (ARMOR) initiative, held from June 1 to 12 and focused on modernising customs audit practices in line with international standards.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Tijjani Abe, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the Service remained committed to strengthening PCA as a key tool for promoting voluntary compliance, facilitating legitimate trade and safeguarding government revenue.

He stressed the need for intelligence-driven and risk-based audit systems to enhance the effectiveness of customs administration.

Also speaking, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Post Clearance Audit, Babatunde Olomu, said the mission had laid a solid foundation for institutional and operational reforms within the Service.

According to him, technical sessions and practical engagements conducted during the programme would support the development of a more efficient and internationally compliant audit system.

Participants at the programme unveiled key deliverables developed during the mission, including draft Standard Operating Procedures, a Case File Management System, audit checklists, trader segmentation frameworks, registry management systems and quality assurance mechanisms.

An annual audit plan covering 30 audit cases across Customs headquarters and three operational zones was also presented, with implementation expected within 45 days.

Speaking on behalf of the World Bank Group, Task Team Lead, Moses Kajubi, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the mission and emphasised the importance of sustained institutional support and capacity building to ensure the success of the reforms.

He reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in strengthening its audit and compliance management capabilities.