The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded an all-time high revenue of ₦1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025 —more than double the ₦600 billion collected during the same period in 2023.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, attributed the impressive revenue growth to a series of transformative reforms introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He made the disclosure in a forthcoming State House documentary marking the President’s second anniversary in office.
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Adeniyi clarified that the revenue boost was not driven by higher import volumes, which have actually declined due to foreign exchange constraints.
Instead, he credited enhanced operational efficiency, improved port processes, greater transparency, and stricter enforcement against revenue leakages across Customs formations.
“We collected ₦1.3 trillion in Q1 2025 alone. This is not due to higher imports. What has changed is efficiency, transparency, and enforcement,” he said.
He announced that the Service is gearing up to roll out the $3.2 billion E-Customs Modernisation Project, a comprehensive digitisation initiative aimed at transforming cargo processing, surveillance, and payment systems across Nigeria’s ports and borders.
“We’re moving from a manual, paper-based system to a fully digital service. The E-Customs Project is central to our future. Once fully deployed, it is projected to generate $250 billion in cumulative revenue over 20 years,” Adeniyi added.
The CG also highlighted the recent launch of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, which fast-tracks clearance for compliant importers, thereby easing 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 operate globally,” he explained.
Adeniyi confirmed that the Service has tightened its grip on smuggling and revenue evasion.
Over the past nine months, ₦64 billion has been recovered from under-assessed and undervalued imports, while major smuggling syndicates operating around Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto borders have been dismantled.
Joint operations with the Nigerian Army, Police, and Department of State Services (DSS) have further strengthened border enforcement.
“We’re no longer just chasing smugglers in the bush. We’re deploying data, drones, and port intelligence to take real-time action. Systemic leakages are now being plugged,” he said.
To facilitate trade, the NCS is fast-tracking the implementation of the National Single Window — a digital platform that consolidates all regulatory agency processes into one portal.
According to Adeniyi, this reform has already reduced cargo clearance timelines at Apapa and Tin Can Ports from 21 days to as few as 7 to 10 days for compliant businesses.
The Customs boss also revealed that the Service has introduced fast-track lanes for agro-exporters and is working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to streamline outbound cargo documentation, in line with the government’s strategy to boost non-oil exports.
“We’re promoting exports aggressively. Last year, Nigeria exported over ₦340 billion in solid minerals and agricultural commodities through formal channels — a 38% increase. We’re aiming higher in 2025,” he stated.
Internally, the agency is undergoing significant transformation, with over 1,800 officers trained in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and risk profiling.
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“Customs is evolving into an intelligence-led organisation. We’re retraining officers to meet global standards,” Adeniyi noted.
He affirmed that the agency’s renewed focus aligns with Tinubu’s mandate to plug leakages, enhance trade facilitation, and grow national revenue without overburdening citizens.
“The President gave us a clear directive: block leakages, facilitate trade, and raise revenue without burdening Nigerians. That is what we are doing — and the results are beginning to speak for themselves,” he said.
