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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has posted a record-breaking revenue of ₦1.3 trillion for the first quarter of 2025, more than doubling the ₦600 billion collected in the same period two years earlier.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, attributed this dramatic growth to sweeping reforms implemented under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
His remarks were revealed in an upcoming State House documentary marking the President’s second year in office.
Adeniyi explained that the revenue boost was not driven by increased import volumes, which have declined due to foreign exchange challenges.
Instead, he credited improved efficiency, tighter enforcement, enhanced transparency, and more effective port operations for the leap in revenue collection.
“We collected ₦1.3 trillion in Q1 2025 alone. This is not due to higher import volumes. Imports have dropped due to foreign exchange constraints. What has changed is efficiency, transparency, and enforcement,” the Comptroller-General said.
He also unveiled plans for the E-Customs Modernisation Project, a $3.2 billion initiative set to revolutionise cargo processing, payment, and surveillance across Nigeria’s ports and borders.
The project will transition the service from a paper-based system to a fully digital platform.
“We’re laying the foundation to move from a manual, paper-based system to a fully digital service. The E-Customs Project is central to our future. Once fully deployed, we project it will add $250 billion in cumulative revenue over 20 years,” he said.
The NCS has also begun implementing the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, designed to fast-track the clearance process for pre-vetted importers. The initiative aims to improve trust and efficiency while reducing congestion at the ports.
“It’s about trust and efficiency. If you’re compliant, you get green-lane treatment. This is how modern customs systems work globally,” he said.
Adeniyi further reported that anti-smuggling measures have been intensified, with over ₦64 billion recovered from under-assessed or undervalued imports within the past nine months.
Smuggling rings at strategic borders such as Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto have been dismantled, thanks to new joint task forces working in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, DSS, and Police.
“We’re no longer just chasing smugglers in the bush. We’re using data, surveillance drones, and port intelligence to act in real-time. Once systemic leakages are now being plugged,” Adeniyi said.
To improve trade facilitation, the agency is expediting the implementation of the National Single Window, a digital portal that consolidates processes involving up to 15 different government agencies. The system is expected to significantly cut clearance times and operational costs for importers.
“Right now, you deal with up to 15 agencies manually. With the Single Window, you’ll do it all online, in one place. This will slash clearance time and costs,” the CG explained, noting that processing times at Apapa and Tin Can Ports have already dropped to 7–10 days for compliant importers.
Additionally, fast-track lanes have been introduced to support agro-exports, with ongoing collaboration between NCS and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) aimed at enhancing the outbound cargo process. This aligns with the government’s efforts to diversify the economy through non-oil exports.
“We’re promoting exports aggressively. Last year, Nigeria exported over ₦340 billion worth of solid minerals and agro commodities through formal channels, up by 38%. We’re targeting even more in 2025,” he said.
Internally, the Customs Service is undergoing a significant transformation. More than 1,800 officers have received training in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics, and risk profiling in a bid to reposition the agency as an intelligence-driven organisation.
“Customs is no longer just about physical inspection. We are becoming an intelligence-led organisation, and our officers are being retrained to match global standards,” Adeniyi said.
He concluded by reaffirming that the agency’s mission is clear and firmly aligned with the President’s directive—to eliminate leakages, streamline trade, and raise revenue without overburdening the public.
