Trade between Nigeria and Malaysia has grown to N1.82tn over the past five years, according to the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, noting a sharp rise in imports from Malaysia during the period.
He said Nigeria’s imports increased from N159.9bn in 2020 to N716bn in 2024, bringing the total bilateral trade value to about N1.82tn between 2020 and 2024.
Maiwada attributed the growth to ongoing efforts to strengthen international customs cooperation and improve trade facilitation. He added that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has deepened its engagement with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department.
He explained that the discussions followed a visit by Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to the Royal Malaysian Customs headquarters during the DSA Malaysia 2026 event, where he met with its Director-General, Dato’ Haji Amran bin Haji Ahmad.
Both officials held talks focused on customs modernisation, institutional collaboration, and enhanced border management systems aimed at improving efficiency and regulatory standards.
Maiwada noted that both sides acknowledged the absence of a formal legal framework guiding their customs relationship despite long-standing trade ties. To bridge this gap, they agreed to begin processes toward a Mutual Recognition Agreement under the World Customs Organisation framework, to be pursued through diplomatic channels.
The initiative, he said, is expected to strengthen cooperation, build trust, and improve trade facilitation between both countries.
Adeniyi stressed that the scale of Nigeria–Malaysia trade requires a more structured customs partnership, describing Malaysia as a key trading partner supplying palm oil, refined olein, jet fuel, machinery, and other industrial products.
He also highlighted existing customs initiatives such as the Authorised Economic Operator programme, designed to speed up clearance processes, reduce costs, and enhance compliance.
Both sides agreed on the need for stronger collaboration in intelligence sharing, enforcement coordination, and technology-driven border management to tackle illicit trade and trafficking.
The Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed its commitment to deepening bilateral and multilateral partnerships as part of its modernisation agenda, saying the outcomes of the engagement will improve trade facilitation, security, and economic growth.
