The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) reported that trade between Nigeria and other African countries reached ₦4.82 trillion in the first half of 2025, a substantial increase from ₦600 billion recorded the previous year.

Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi announced the figures during the Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) event in Abuja, highlighting the strengthening momentum of regional trade.

Key points from the announcement:

• The event hosted 464 confirmed participants from 28 countries, including 26 African nations, along with 10 senior customs officials and 16 diplomatic representatives.
• Private sector representation included 53 CEOs and 19 Managing Directors, showing strong commitment to making AfCFTA work in practice.
• Nigeria’s exports to ECOWAS countries have risen significantly, reinforcing Nigeria’s role as a hub for intra-continental trade and value chains.
• Adeniyi emphasized the importance of customs modernization, logistics efficiency, and proper implementation of AfCFTA, noting that customs are the custodians of trade data—crucial for continental trade objectives.

Adeniyi stressed that for AfCFTA to succeed, customs administrations across Africa must be well-equipped, coordinated, and actively engaged, and that regional ownership and collective discipline are essential for long-term success.