The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has collected over ₦1.75 trillion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025—exceeding its quarterly target by more than ₦106 billion and marking a nearly 30% year-on-year increase.
This was disclosed on Monday by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a press briefing at the Service’s headquarters in Abuja.
Adeniyi attributed the performance to reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and enhanced operational efficiency supported by the Ministry of Finance. “We achieved 106.47% of our quarterly revenue target and recorded a 29.96% increase compared to the same period in 2024. These are not just numbers—they reflect the hard work of our officers across ports and borders,” he said.
According to him, January 2025 recorded the highest monthly revenue collection with ₦647.88 billion, a 65.77% increase from January 2024. February and March also outperformed their targets with ₦540.1 billion and ₦563.5 billion, respectively.
On enforcement, the CG revealed that 298 seizures were made within the quarter with a total duty-paid value of ₦7.69 billion. This includes 135,474 bags of smuggled rice, 65,819 liters of petroleum products, 22 seizures of narcotics, and high-value wildlife products worth over ₦5.65 billion. “The spike in wildlife seizures shows our intensified efforts against environmental crimes,” Adeniyi noted.
The Service also processed 327,928 import declarations, reflecting a 5.28% increase from Q1 2024, with a 40% surge in import weight and a 26.72% increase in the value of goods. Exports, however, saw fewer transactions but significantly larger volumes—up by 348% from Q1 2024—suggesting a shift toward bulk commodity shipments.
“These trends show we’re not just facilitating trade—we’re adapting to evolving trade patterns,” Adeniyi said.
He highlighted several milestones including the expansion of the B’Odogwu customs platform, the launch of the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programme, and the “Customs Cares” corporate social responsibility initiative. The CG emphasized that the Service’s interventions in food import duty exemptions are already influencing market prices. “We’ve seen food prices drop by 12–18% this year alone, thanks in part to these waivers,” he explained.
Despite the gains, the CG admitted the Service faced challenges. Exchange rate volatility, with 62 different rates recorded during the quarter, created unpredictability for importers. Adeniyi also cited the temporary suspension of the 4% FOB Financial Customs Service Operation and the 14% tariff on Nigerian exports to the U.S. as hurdles requiring diplomatic attention.
Looking ahead, Adeniyi promised deeper modernization of customs operations and continued improvements in service delivery. “We’re building a Customs Service that’s transparent, tech-driven, and people-oriented,” he concluded.
The CG expressed appreciation to President Tinubu, the Minister of Finance, and the Customs workforce, while reaffirming the Service’s commitment to national development.
