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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with the World Bank Group, has launched a two-week Technical Assistance Mission on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) under the Accelerated Revenue Mobilisation Reform (ARMOR) Programme to strengthen compliance management, revenue assurance, and trade facilitation.
The workshop, which runs from June 1 to 12, 2026, is being held at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, Assistant Comptroller-General Babatunde Olomu described the mission as a key step in advancing the Service’s modernisation agenda and building a technology-driven, intelligence-led, and globally competitive customs administration.
He noted that modern customs operations increasingly depend on intelligence-led, risk-based, and post-clearance interventions that encourage voluntary compliance while supporting legitimate trade and economic growth.
According to him, the mission will assess existing processes, identify operational gaps, adopt global best practices, and develop practical solutions to strengthen the Post Clearance Audit framework.
Olomu identified risk-based targeting, case and registry management, quality assurance, standardisation, and integrated audit systems as major focus areas.
He said effective Post Clearance Audit enables Customs to move beyond transaction-based controls to a strategic compliance approach that improves revenue assurance, facilitates trade, enhances transparency, and strengthens public confidence.
“This mission presents an opportunity to assess our processes, identify gaps, learn from international best practices, and develop practical solutions to strengthen our PCA framework and compliance management system,” he said.
Olomu commended the Comptroller-General for prioritising modernisation and capacity building and appreciated the World Bank and other development partners for supporting Customs reforms. He also urged participants to ensure lessons learned translate into measurable operational improvements.
World Bank Task Team Lead, Moses Kajubi, said the mission is designed to strengthen the capacity of PCA officers through modern customs practices, practical audit tools, and internationally recognised methodologies.
He said participants would be exposed to global best practices, case management techniques, and compliance strategies adaptable to Nigeria’s operational environment.
Kajubi stressed the importance of technology, structured case management, and data-driven decision-making in improving audit quality, compliance monitoring, and trade facilitation.
“This engagement will equip participants with practical tools and global best practices that can be directly applied to improve the effectiveness of Post Clearance Audit operations,” he said.
Lead Consultant for the ARMOR Programme, Colonel Aloke Dutt, said the initiative aims to enhance trade facilitation, optimise revenue collection, and strengthen compliance management through a more structured audit system.
He emphasised the need for standardised audit methodologies, effective monitoring mechanisms, and greater use of data analytics to improve accountability and operational efficiency.
Dutt also highlighted the role of technology-driven solutions, including the B’Odogwu platform, and the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to support a competency-based audit framework across the Service.
During a technical session, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Muhammad Jubril demonstrated the Post Clearance Audit process on the B’Odogwu platform, showing how officers can initiate audit reviews using Harmonised Commodity codes and other risk indicators.
Closing the workshop’s opening session, Comptroller Muhammad Shattima urged participants to maximise the training and apply the knowledge gained in support of the strategic objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service.
