The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has called for robust data validation and deeper stakeholder collaboration as fiscal and regulatory reforms gather momentum.
Adeniyi made the call on Monday, May 11, 2026, when the Service hosted the Beer Sectoral Group at its headquarters in Maitama, Abuja. The meeting brought together top executives from leading brewing companies to deliberate on tax administration, trade transparency, and the ongoing debate over the proposed tax stamp policy.
Speaking during the engagement, the Customs boss stressed that policies affecting key sectors must be grounded in credible data and a clear understanding of market dynamics.
“We need to have a clear understanding of what constitutes illicit trade. Some of these products are legitimately manufactured in Nigeria. In other jurisdictions, customs administrations are already engaging in discussions around how such products move across borders into unauthorised markets”, Adeniyi said.
He further emphasised that the integrity of data presented to policymakers is critical to effective decision-making.
“When we are making policy decisions of this nature, the credibility and accuracy of data must never be in doubt”, he added.
Highlighting ongoing reforms within the Service, Adeniyi noted that several trade facilitation initiatives have been introduced to improve efficiency and ease bottlenecks across the supply chain. These include the Advance Ruling system and the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme.
On the proposed tax stamp policy, he clarified that consultations are still ongoing and no final decision has been reached.
“If this initiative is legitimate and beneficial, then we all have a responsibility to ensure that we are heading in the right direction”, he said, urging continued engagement between government and the private sector.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and CEO of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Girish Sharma, said the industry sought to present its concerns over the proposed framework, which has sparked debate within the sector.
Sharma acknowledged the importance of regulatory controls but maintained that the beer industry is already highly structured and faces minimal counterfeiting risks.
“We fully understand the purpose and importance of tax stamps, particularly in industries where counterfeiting is a major concern. However, within the beer sector, counterfeiting is minimal”, he said.
He added that existing systems already ensure transparency across production and distribution chains.
“From an end-to-end compliance perspective, we believe there is already sufficient oversight”, Sharma noted.
While reiterating the sector’s contribution to employment, tax revenue, and economic growth, he cautioned that additional regulatory measures must be carefully designed to avoid unintended consequences for the industry.