Nigeria, UK Customs Deepen Partnership to Boost Trade Facilitation and Digital Border Management

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18 Terrorists Neutralised as OPHK Hits High-Profile Meeting Point in Borno By ZAKAA LAZARUS The Air Component of Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK) has destroyed a terrorist enclave and neutralised over 18 fighters in Tumbunma Baba, Tumbuns area of Borno State. This was disclosed in a statement signed by Captain Mohammed Goni, Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) OPHK, on 11 September, 2026. According to the statement, the operation involved a force package of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and attack platforms working in close coordination with ground troops of Sector 1 OPHK. The operation was based on credible intelligence gathered over the past weeks indicating the presence of high-profile terrorist elements using the islands as convergence points for meetings and logistics. The intelligence was validated through surveillance by Theatre Command and confirmatory ISR from Wednesday, 9 September 2026, which identified several terrorist structures and logistics hubs in the location. The kinetic operation was executed in the early hours of Friday, 11 September 2026. Following positive identification, air platforms engaged the designated targets with precision munitions while ground troops occupied likely escape routes for direct fire engagements. The statement said the air strikes successfully destroyed targeted structures and neutralised over 18 terrorist elements. A post-strike assessment indicated an estimated 85 per cent success in achieving the intended operational objectives. The Army noted that the operation dealt “a significant blow to terrorist activities in the area, disrupting their logistics and degrading their ability to use the enclave as a gathering and support base.” It added that the outcome underscores the effectiveness of intelligence-led operations, timely ISR confirmation, and coordinated air-ground synergy. OPHK assured that it will continue to conduct intelligence-driven operations “to deny terrorist elements the freedom to operate, regroup or establish logistics and support infrastructure across the Theatre,” working in concert with all security agencies and stakeholders. Members of the public were also encouraged to remain vigilant and provide credible and timely information to security forces to support ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist activities across the North East Theatre.

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Scores of Terrorist, Family Surrender to Troops in Borno, as Military Sustains Operations Nationwide

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By ZAKAA LAZARUS

The Nigeria Customs Service has strengthened its strategic collaboration with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom to enhance trade facilitation, advance digital border management, and modernize customs operations.


The development followed a high-level bilateral meeting held in London on March 18, 2026, during the State Visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the United Kingdom, under the framework of the Nigeria–United Kingdom Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP).

The bilateral engagement was led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and Ms Megan Shaw, Head of International Customs and Border Engagement at HMRC.

The discussions focused on modernizing customs operations, enhancing data transparency in bilateral trade flows, and expanding operational cooperation to improve efficiency and integrity across the Nigeria–United Kingdom trade corridor.


Comptroller-General Adeniyi emphasised that effective customs cooperation is critical for economic growth and sustainable trade development. He noted the longstanding economic ties between Nigeria and the UK, which span key sectors including industrial goods, agriculture, energy, and consumer products. He stressed that customs administrations play a frontline role in ensuring that trade flows are secure, transparent, and mutually beneficial.

Both administrations acknowledged gaps in bilateral trade data as a structural challenge requiring coordinated solutions. In 2024, while approximately £504 million in UK-origin goods were recorded as imports into Nigeria, the UK reported exports to Nigeria valued at roughly £1.7 billion. To address this discrepancy, both parties agreed to explore a structured pre-arrival data exchange framework between their respective digital customs platforms to improve risk management, data reconciliation, and compliance monitoring.


The meeting also showcased each administration’s customs modernisation initiatives, including HMRC’s advancements in artificial intelligence-driven trade tools, digital verification systems, and real-time analytics. Key outcomes from the engagement include the development of a Customs Mutual Administrative Assistance Framework, the commencement of technical scoping for capacity-building and knowledge exchange, and the establishment of a joint technical engagement mechanism under the ETIP framework.