By Saminu Ibrahim
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Fire Service (FFS) and Unilever Nigeria PLC have signed separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen collaboration on security, fire safety, trade facilitation, consumer protection and economic development.
The agreements were signed on Thursday, August 27, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the signing ceremony with the FFS, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, described the agreement as a bold and strategic step towards deepening inter-agency cooperation.
Adeniyi said the MoU would enhance fire safety standards across Customs facilities, improve emergency response, promote joint training and capacity building, and strengthen information sharing on fire prevention and emergency preparedness.
“I am very confident that this MoU will translate to practical actions that save lives, protect government assets, and enhance our collective capacity to respond to emergencies,” he said.
The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, described the agreement as the first major MoU between the FFS and a sister agency, assuring that the Service would deploy its expertise and resources to protect Customs personnel and assets.
In a separate engagement with Unilever Nigeria PLC, Adeniyi said the partnership underscored the NCS’s commitment to closer collaboration with the private sector in tackling challenges affecting trade and industrial development.
He said the agreement would strengthen efforts to combat counterfeiting through intelligence sharing and the identification and verification of suspected counterfeit products.
According to him, the MoU would also provide a structured platform for real-time information on trademarks, product identification features, packaging and product samples.
Adeniyi noted that engagements with private-sector stakeholders had continued to provide valuable insights that inform Customs policies and operational decisions.
“Some of the takeaways we get from these engagements with the private sector influence the policies and decisions that we take,” he said.
The CGC commended Unilever for its sustained investment, innovation and employment generation in Nigeria, describing the company as an important partner in the country’s trade and industrial sector.
The Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria PLC, Tobi Adeniyi, said the company had maintained a presence in Nigeria since 1923 and had localised more than 70 per cent of its raw materials.
He added that Unilever supports about 15,000 direct and indirect jobs in the country.
Tobi commended the NCS for its ongoing transformation, particularly its digitalisation initiatives, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other measures aimed at facilitating legitimate trade.
He said previous engagements between Unilever and the Customs Service had already yielded practical results, including the application of lessons from training programmes involving more than 70 Customs officers.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the NCS in the fight against counterfeiting and illicit trade, while expressing readiness to deepen the partnership through further engagements across the country.
