Customs Slams AEO Firm Over False Declaration, Suspends Certification as Revenue Hits N1.585trn

|By Babatunji Wusu

The Nigeria Customs Service has suspended an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)-certified company over false declaration of consignments, reinforcing its zero-tolerance stance on trade infractions.

In a statement issued Thursday, Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada confirmed that the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, ordered the immediate suspension of the firm’s AEO status. The Service, however, withheld the identity of the defaulting company.

Maiwada said the suspension followed the discovery of a compliance breach involving the recently certified firm, which allegedly engaged in false declaration contrary to the obligations of the AEO programme.

He disclosed that Adeniyi invoked the provisions of the AEO Guidelines, the World Customs Organization SAFE Framework of Standards, and Section 112 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, to sanction the company.

The Customs Service stressed that while the AEO initiative has significantly boosted revenue and strengthened trade facilitation, compliance remains non-negotiable.

Since the rollout of the AEO scheme, Customs revealed that certified operators have collectively contributed N362.97 billion in additional remittances into the Federation Account.

According to the Service, revenue collection rose sharply from N1.222 trillion before the AEO certification regime to N1.585 trillion as of October 27, 2025 — representing a growth of N362.79 billion or 29.68 percent across 51 certified entities.

Despite these gains, Customs warned that it would not hesitate to enforce sanctions against any operator who violates established trade protocols.

The Service reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of the AEO programme while ensuring strict adherence to regulatory standards in Nigeria’s import and export ecosystem.