Nigeria and Belarus have agreed to work together to stop smuggling and customs fraud. Both countries signed a new Memorandum of Understanding in Brussels during a global customs meeting held at the headquarters of the World Customs Organisation.
The agreement was signed by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, and Vladimir Orlovsky, the Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Belarus.
After the signing, Adeniyi said the deal is a big step for Nigeria’s customs reforms. He explained that the focus will be on sharing intelligence, joint operations, and training.
“We are forging a new chapter in international cooperation, one rooted in mutual trust, operational efficiency, and proactive intelligence,” Adeniyi said.
“This partnership with Belarus strengthens our ability to combat transnational threats, facilitate secure trade, and modernise procedures in line with global best practices.”
The agreement also includes plans to protect national revenues, improve how goods are valued and classified, and work together on stopping illegal drugs, wildlife trafficking, and other cross-border crimes.
According to Adeniyi, the move is part of Nigeria’s shift to using more intelligence-led strategies to secure its borders and support legal trade.
“Beyond enforcement, this is a framework for learning, innovation, and solidarity among customs administrations,” he added.
“Nigeria is proud to stand alongside Belarus in advancing collaborative customs solutions that protect our borders and promote legitimate commerce.”
Vladimir Orlovsky praised Nigeria’s customs for building strong global ties and promised that Belarus is ready to work closely with the country.
“This MoU establishes the foundation for strategic engagement between our administrations. Our shared values in safeguarding trade and combating illicit activity will be the bedrock of this relationship,” Orlovsky said.
The partnership allows both countries to work on joint investigations, share real-time intelligence, and apply customs procedures according to their national laws.
