The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has achieved a remarkable revenue collection of ₦1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, more than double the ₦600 billion collected during the same period last year. Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, credited this impressive growth to the transformative reforms implemented under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, a subject highlighted in an upcoming State House documentary celebrating the President’s second anniversary.
Adeniyi emphasized that the substantial revenue boost was not a result of increased import volumes, which have actually decreased due to foreign exchange constraints. Instead, he attributed the success to enhanced efficiency, transparency, and stricter enforcement measures that have helped to reduce revenue leakages.
“We collected ₦1.3 trillion in Q1 2025 alone. This success is due to improved operational efficiency rather than higher import volumes,” Adeniyi stated.
As part of ongoing reforms, the NCS is set 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. Adeniyi remarked, “We’re laying the foundation to transition from a manual, paper-based system to a fully digital service. The E-Customs Project is central to our future, with projections estimating a cumulative revenue increase of $250 billion over 20 years.”
Additionally, the newly launched Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme is aimed at onboarding pre-vetted importers, allowing compliant businesses expedited processing and alleviating port congestion. “If you’re compliant, you benefit from green-lane treatment, enhancing both efficiency and trust,” he explained.
The NCS has intensified its anti-smuggling operations, recovering over ₦64 billion from previously under-assessed or undervalued imports in the last nine months and dismantling significant smuggling rings operating at various borders. Adeniyi highlighted the success of newly formed joint border patrol task forces, which have utilized advanced data, surveillance drones, and port intelligence for real-time enforcement.
To facilitate trade further and lower business costs, the NCS is swiftly rolling out a National Single Window digital portal aimed at integrating all agencies involved in cargo clearance. This initiative is expected to streamline processes significantly, reducing clearance times at Apapa and Tin Can Ports from 21 days to as little as 7–10 days for compliant importers.
Adeniyi also noted the agency’s commitment to boosting Nigeria’s export market, reporting that over ₦340 billion in solid minerals and agro commodities were exported through formal channels last year, marking a 38% increase, with even higher targets set for 2025.
To ensure that the organization meets global standards, the Customs Service is undergoing an internal transformation, training over 1,800 officers in advanced data analytics, risk profiling, and artificial intelligence. “Customs is evolving into an intelligence-led organization, and our officers are being retrained to match global standards,” he concluded.
“The President has given us a clear directive: block leakages, facilitate trade, and raise revenue without burdening Nigerians. We are committed to this mission, and the results are beginning to reflect our progress,” Adeniyi added.
This unprecedented revenue achievement signals a significant step forward for the Nigeria Customs Service and reflects the impact of President Tinubu’s reforms on the nation’s economic landscape.