Customs, BATN strengthen collaboration to combat illicit tobacco trade in Nigeria

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and BAT Nigeria (BATN) have formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening collaboration in the fight against smuggling, enhancing regulatory compliance, and protecting legitimate investments.

The agreement is seen as part of efforts to curb illicit tobacco trade and strengthen Nigeria’s business environment, which marks a major milestone in the longstanding relationship between both organizations and underscores a shared commitment to safeguarding lawful trade.

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, stated that the agreement is a strategic framework that will strengthen cooperation between the Service and BATN in addressing illegal cross-border trade and ensuring greater compliance across the tobacco value chain.

“We feel delighted that we have been able to sign this instrument, which will provide an effective framework to deepen collaboration between our two organisations,” Adeniyi stated.

He noted that beyond addressing illicit trade, the collaboration sends a strong message to both local and international investors about Nigeria’s commitment to protecting legitimate businesses and creating an enabling environment for investment.

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“I would like to assure you that we will remain committed to both the spirit and the letter of this Memorandum of Understanding and ensure that we wipe out illegal cross-border movements of products within the Nigerian territory,” Adeniyi stated.

Illicit trade remains a major challenge globally, undermining government revenues, distorting markets, weakening regulatory frameworks and creating unfair competition for compliant businesses.

In Nigeria, the fight against smuggling has become increasingly important as the government seeks to strengthen domestic revenue generation, improve border security and promote sustainable economic growth.

The MoU is expected to facilitate greater information sharing, intelligence collaboration, capacity building and coordinated enforcement efforts aimed at identifying and disrupting illicit trade networks operating within and across Nigeria’s borders.

Yarub Al-Bahrani, managing director, BAT Nigeria, described the agreement as a landmark development that reflects the strength of the relationship between BATN and the NCS and reinforces a shared commitment to responsible business practices.

“This relationship represents an important step in strengthening collaboration between BAT Nigeria and the Nigeria Customs Service in addressing illicit trade,” Al-Bahrani stated.

He added that BATN believes that effective public-private sector cooperation is critical to protecting legitimate commerce, supporting regulatory compliance and fostering a business environment where responsible businesses can thrive.

Accordingly, it is stated that Customs’ efforts will foster a more coordinated approach to combating illicit trade within and beyond Nigeria’s borders, support stronger enforcement, protect legitimate commerce, and reinforce Nigeria’s compliance with both its domestic laws and relevant international obligations.

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