The Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has attributed the ₦1.3 trillion revenue generated by the Service in the first quarter of 2025 to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga on Saturday.
According to the statement, Comptroller Adeniyi explained that the revenue surge emanated from improved technological deployment, enhanced port operations, tightened enforcement on revenue leakages, and a renewed culture of accountability across Customs commands.
“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,” he said.
Adeniyi disclosed that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is preparing to launch the E-Customs Modernisation Project, noting that the $3.2 billion initiative will digitise 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, the project will add $250 billion in cumulative revenue over 20 years,” he stated.
The Comptroller noted that the newly launched Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme is now onboarding pre-vetted importers, allowing compliant businesses faster processing and reducing port congestion.
“It’s about trust and efficiency. If you’re compliant, you get green-lane treatment. This is how modern customs systems work globally,” he remarked.
He also affirmed that the Service has intensified its anti-smuggling operations and closed long-standing revenue leakages.
The Customs boss revealed that over ₦64 billion was recovered from previously under-assessed or undervalued imports in the last nine months, adding that major smuggling rings at the Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto borders have been dismantled.
He mentioned that the new joint border patrol task forces, established in coordination with the Nigerian Army, DSS, and Police, have also yielded positive results.”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.
On the ease of trade and business costs reduction, Adeniyi disclosed that NCS is fast-tracking the roll-out of the National Single Window (NSW), stressing that the digital portal will integrate 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,” he noted, emphasising that clearance timelines at Apapa and Tin Can Ports have already dropped from 21 days to 7–10 days for compliant importers.
The Comptroller said that the Service has introduced fast-track lanes for agro-exports and is working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to streamline outbound cargo processes in line with the government’s push for non-oil exports.
He continued: “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.”
Comptroller Adeniyi stated that the NCS is also undergoing internal transformation, with over 1,800 officers trained in advanced data analytics, risk profiling, and artificial intelligence.
He added: “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.
“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.”
