The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced an unprecedented revenue of ₦1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, more than doubling the ₦600 billion collected during the same period in 2023.
Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi attributed the revenue surge to transformative reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He attributed the increased revenue to improved technological deployment, enhanced port operations, tightened enforcement on revenue leakages, and a renewed culture of accountability
“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,” Adeniyi said.
E-Customs Modernisation Project
The NCS is preparing to launch the E-Customs Modernisation Project, a $3.2 billion initiative designed to digitize cargo processing, surveillance, and payment systems across Nigeria’s ports and borders.
“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,” Adeniyi explained.
The Customs Service has intensified its anti-smuggling operations, recovering over ₦64 billion from previously under-assessed or undervalued imports in the last nine months.
Major smuggling rings at Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto borders have been dismantled, with new joint border patrol task forces established in coordination 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.
Improving Trade Efficiency
To ease trade and reduce business costs, the NCS is fast-tracking the roll-out of the National Single Window, a digital portal integrating all government agencies involved in cargo clearance.
“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,” Adeniyi explained.
Clearance timelines at Apapa and Tin Can Ports have already dropped from 21 days to 7–10 days for compliant importers.
The NCS has introduced fast-track lanes for agro-exports and is working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to streamline outbound cargo processes.
“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,” Adeniyi said.
Internal Transformation
The Customs Service is undergoing internal transformation, with over 1,800 officers trained in advanced data analytics, risk profiling, and artificial intelligence.
“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 stated.
“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 concluded.
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