The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has commended British American Tobacco (BAT) for its high level of regulatory compliance and economic contribution, urging other investors to adopt the company’s approach to doing business in Nigeria.
Adeniyi made the commendation on Monday, September 14, 2026, during a visit to the BAT manufacturing facility in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he described the investment as an example of the kind of enterprise capable of supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification.
“As a customs officer, I cannot but notice the high level of commitment to compliance. So I’m indeed very, very grateful.
“And I would say that this is one investment that Nigeria got right, and I wish we could have so many companies giving this kind of opportunity and giving back this much to Nigeria”, he said.
The Comptroller-General noted that BAT contributes to government revenue through multiple channels, including customs duties on imports and excise duties on goods manufactured locally.
He also highlighted the company’s contribution to employment and local agriculture, saying such investments could support broader economic activity beyond their immediate operations.
Adeniyi linked the visit to the Federal Government’s drive to develop a non-oil, export-led economy under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) had repositioned its operations to support the policy.
He disclosed that the Service had established a dedicated export command in Lagos, alongside a number of export processing terminals, to facilitate the movement of Nigerian products into international markets.
“We have established a terminal, a command that is specifically looking after issues of exports. So that’s the only thing they do in that particular command in Lagos.
“We have a number of exports processing terminals in and around Lagos that are tied to that command where exports are being processed”, he said.
The Customs boss urged other investors to draw lessons from BAT’s approach to compliance, integrity and community engagement.
“In terms of size, this is probably the biggest in terms of size of operation in Africa. So we invite other investors; they should take their cue from here”, Adeniyi said.
He added that investors were expected to “play according to the rules”, citing BAT’s commitment to compliance and integrity as an example of how businesses could operate while making a significant contribution to the communities where they are located.
According to him, such a relationship between government and compliant businesses could create a “win-win situation” by encouraging investment, increasing government revenue, generating employment and strengthening the wider economy.
During the visit, Adeniyi also participated in a tree-planting exercise in support of BAT’s environmental sustainability initiative and toured the company’s manufacturing facility.