By
Peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a historic revenue of N1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, more than doubling the N600 billion collected in the same period in 2023. Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi credited the impressive achievement to sweeping reforms implemented under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a State House documentary set to air soon to mark President Tinubu’s second year in office, Adeniyi explained that the revenue surge was not due to increased imports, which have declined amid ongoing forex challenges. Instead, he said the gains were the result of efficiency, transparency, and strengthened enforcement in Customs operations. He emphasized that the Service is now driven by focused leadership and accountability.
The Customs chief revealed that a major catalyst behind the transformation is the $3.2 billion E-Customs Modernisation Project. The initiative is preparing for full deployment and is expected to automate the cargo clearance process, surveillance, and payment systems across the country’s ports and borders. Once operational, the project is projected to generate up to $250 billion in cumulative revenue over 20 years.
According to Adeniyi, the agency has already seen improvements in key operational areas such as port efficiency, anti-smuggling enforcement, and revenue leak prevention. He disclosed that over N64 billion had been recovered in under-assessed or undervalued import duties within the past nine months. Intelligence tools, drones, and coordinated task forces with military and security agencies are being used to target smuggling activities in real time, with significant success reported in border areas like Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto.
In addition to enforcement, Customs has introduced the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, designed to reward compliant importers with faster cargo clearance. Clearance times at major ports like Apapa and Tin Can have already been reduced from 21 days to as few as 7 to 10 days for eligible importers.
As part of its trade facilitation efforts, the Service is advancing the National Single Window project, a digital platform intended to consolidate all government agency requirements for cargo processing into a single portal. This innovation is expected to significantly reduce clearance time and business costs.
Adeniyi also spoke about reforms aimed at boosting non-oil exports. He said fast-track lanes have been introduced for agricultural exports, and the agency is working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to streamline outbound cargo. In 2024 alone, Nigeria formally exported over ₦340 billion in solid minerals and agro products, marking a 38% increase.
Internally, the NCS is undergoing a digital transformation of its workforce, with over 1,800 officers trained in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and risk profiling. Adeniyi said the agency is moving away from manual container checks to intelligence-led operations.
He concluded by reaffirming that these results reflect President Tinubu’s directive to increase revenue, cut waste, and facilitate trade without overburdening Nigerians. “That is what we are doing. And the results are beginning to speak for themselves,” Adeniyi said.
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