World Bank boosts customs audit capacity

By Emma Ujah, Abuja Bureau Chief

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

“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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

“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.

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

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.

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

The post World Bank boosts customs audit capacity appeared first on Vanguard News.