Nigeria Customs Enhances Leadership with WCO Training Program

Published: 01/22/2026
Leadership Development Customs Modernization Capacity Building
The World Customs Organization (WCO) conducted a Leadership and Management Development Workshop for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), aiming to enhance the capabilities of senior management and drive NCS reform and modernization. The workshop covered topics such as strategic management, people management, and change management. Participants responded enthusiastically, expressing their intention to apply what they learned. The Comptroller General of the NCS highly praised the workshop, recognizing its crucial role in developing the skills necessary to address future challenges.
Nigeria Customs Enhances Leadership with WCO Training Program

Imagine a future where Nigeria's customs authority evolves from a border control entity into a powerful engine for national economic growth. This vision is becoming reality as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) undertakes a strategic initiative to develop world-class leadership capabilities among its senior executives.

The World Customs Organization (WCO) recently partnered with NCS to conduct a comprehensive Leadership and Management Development (LMD) workshop for 21 senior officials, including regional coordinators and deputy comptrollers. This intensive two-week program followed an earlier executive retreat held in August, forming a two-pronged approach to organizational transformation.

Strategic Capacity Building

The WCO brought its global expertise to design a curriculum addressing critical leadership competencies:

  • Strategic Visioning: Developing long-term perspectives to guide NCS's evolution
  • Operational Management: Optimizing customs processes for trade facilitation
  • Negotiation Techniques: Enhancing commercial diplomacy skills
  • Human Capital Development: Building high-performance teams
  • Change Leadership: Managing organizational transformation

Participants engaged in interactive learning methods including case studies, group discussions, and role-playing exercises. These practical sessions allowed senior officials to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world customs challenges.

Organizational Transformation

The workshop emphasized the critical role of senior leadership in driving modernization efforts. Participants developed a shared understanding of their responsibility to implement reforms across all operational levels of NCS.

Comptroller-General Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd) endorsed the program, recognizing its importance in preparing NCS leadership for emerging challenges in global trade and border security.

The initiative reflects Nigeria's commitment to aligning its customs administration with international best practices, positioning NCS as a catalyst for economic development through enhanced trade facilitation and revenue optimization.

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