The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has expressed readiness to partner with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to deepen diaspora engagement, facilitate humanitarian interventions and support strategic investments by Nigerians abroad.
The commitment was made during a courtesy visit by NiDCOM Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to the NCS headquarters in Abuja, where both agencies reaffirmed the importance of structured collaboration to advance national development.
Speaking during the visit, Dabiri-Erewa briefed the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on preparations for this year’s Nigeria Diaspora Day, which will focus on the Diaspora Health Impact Initiative 2026 (DHII 2026).
The initiative is scheduled to hold from July 20 to 23, 2026, across several states, ahead of the National Diaspora Day celebrations on July 25 and 26 in Abuja.
She highlighted the challenges faced by Nigerians in the diaspora who import medical equipment and relief materials for humanitarian purposes, calling for the establishment of a structured framework to support legitimate diaspora interventions, including waivers for medical and educational equipment.
According to her, the initiative will involve seven major diaspora medical associations that will be deployed to designated regions across the country to conduct medical outreaches and specialised training.
The associations are expected to cover various areas of medicine across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones before concluding their activities in Abuja during the National Diaspora Day 2026.
Dabiri-Erewa also appealed to the Customs Service for seamless collaboration during the programme, particularly in clearing medical equipment and supplies to be imported for the outreach.
She further sought moral, financial and institutional support for the event and invited the Comptroller-General to participate in the Diaspora Quarterly Lecture Series.
The NiDCOM boss also urged him to attend the Global Diaspora Summit scheduled to hold in Canada on August 12, 2026.
In addition, she proposed joint training initiatives, including sensitisation programmes for Customs officers on diaspora-related issues and capacity-building support for NiDCOM staff.
Responding, Adeniyi commended NiDCOM for its work over the past six years in projecting a positive image of Nigerians globally and strengthening ties between the diaspora community and the Nigerian government.
He noted that although revenue generation remains a core mandate of the Customs Service, the agency has increasingly prioritised trade facilitation to improve turnaround time at ports, reduce the cost of doing business and enhance overall revenue performance.
According to him, the Service has in the last three years developed guidelines to create dedicated corridors for perishable and life-saving goods at ports and airports.
“We will be willing to do anything for them that will enhance development back home and our reputation abroad as enablers and not impediments to their progress,” Adeniyi said.
He added that similar considerations would apply to genuine humanitarian and medical outreach materials, provided due process is followed and the appropriate documentation, including Import Duty Exemption Certificates from the Ministry of Finance, is obtained.
The Comptroller-General also referenced healthcare sector concessions introduced under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2025 to reduce medical costs, discourage medical tourism and attract diaspora investment.
He disclosed that in 2025 alone, more than ₦60 billion in Customs duty concessions were granted to organisations involved in manufacturing or importing healthcare delivery systems.
“This is an area we would like Nigerians in the diaspora to key into. Government is deliberately giving up revenue to encourage investment in healthcare. We can have discussions with those interested,” he said.
While cautioning against the misuse of humanitarian channels, Adeniyi assured that the Service would continue discussions with NiDCOM to establish clear processes that distinguish genuine interventions from abuse.
He also welcomed NiDCOM’s proposal for joint training and disclosed that the Customs Service already operates a help desk that could serve as a focal point for handling diaspora-related matters.
Senior officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and members of the NiDCOM management team attended the meeting.
Both agencies said the engagement marks a significant step towards institutionalising collaboration between Customs and Nigeria’s diaspora community, in line with the Federal Government’s drive to harness diaspora contributions for national development.
