•Records 298 seizures valued at N7.7bn, grants N95.1bn food import waiver
From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has delivered impressive results in its key areas of responsibility, including revenue collection, anti-smuggling operations, and trade facilitation in the first quarter of 2025.
Under the leadership of the Comptroller-General, the Service’s revenue collection for the quarter totaled N1.75 trillion, exceeding its target of N1.65 trillion by a remarkable N106.5 billion, achieving 106.47% of the projected target.
The achievement represents a 29.96% increase over the same period in 2024, underscoring the effectiveness of reforms and improved operational strategies. Notably, January’s revenue collection surpassed its target by 18.12%, with a remarkable 65.77% year-on-year growth, while February and March continued the upward trend with notable increases over 2024 figures.
These positive revenue figures reflect the NCS’s ongoing efforts to streamline processes and curb revenue losses, enabling the Service to maintain a strong and steady growth trajectory. This success is attributed to the hard work of Customs officers, who have worked tirelessly to intercept illegal goods, facilitate lawful trade, and secure government revenue.
Adeniyi also revealed that the Service, in compliance with fiscal directives, has granted duty exemptions on essential food imports totaling over N95.1 billion from 2024 through the first quarter of 2025.
The strategic decision, he noted, has played a strategic role in the recent decline in the prices of key staples, such as maize, rice and sorghum, across the nation.
On the anti-smuggling front, the Nigeria Customs Service recorded 298 seizures, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N7.7 billion. This is a significant increase of 78.41% from the previous quarter’s figures, demonstrating the heightened effectiveness of enforcement operations. While there was a 19.7% decrease compared to Q1 2024, the reduction in the DPV indicates an improvement in compliance, largely due to continued stakeholder engagement and the deterrent effect of Customs enforcement. The Service made significant progress in targeting illicit rice, petroleum products, narcotics, and wildlife trafficking, reflecting its ongoing commitment to securing the nation’s borders and promoting environmental protection.
Trade facilitation remains a priority for the Nigeria Customs Service, with the first quarter of 2025 seeing an increase in both the number of imports processed and the value of goods traded. The NCS handled a total of 327,928 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs), processing goods with a total CIF value of ₦14.81 trillion, marking a 5.28% increase in the number of import transactions compared to the same period in 2024. Notably, the Service recorded a 26.72% rise in the CIF value of imports, reflecting a shift towards higher-value goods. While export transactions saw a slight decline, export mass saw a remarkable increase, underscoring Nigeria’s growing prominence in global trade, especially in bulk commodities.
The first quarter also saw the successful expansion of the B’Odogwu platform, which enhances operational efficiency and service delivery for stakeholders. In addition, the official launch of the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) Programme and the “Customs Cares” Corporate Social Responsibility initiative marked important milestones in the Service’s modernization and community engagement efforts. The “Customs Cares” program, launched in March 2025, has already made an impact by providing educational materials and healthcare services to thousands of Nigerians, in alignment with the government’s priorities and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Despite these successes, the Nigeria Customs Service also faced challenges, including exchange rate volatility, which continues to create uncertainty for traders and complicate customs valuation. The Service is actively working with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Ministry of Finance to mitigate these effects and stabilize the exchange rate. Additionally, operational disruptions were experienced following the suspension of the Financial Customs Service Operation (FCSO), and the introduction of a 14% reciprocal tariff by the United States on Nigerian exports added complexity to the Service’s export trade.
The Nigeria Customs Service remains focused on further modernization and the continuous enhancement of service delivery. Through innovations such as the expanded B’Odogwu platform, the introduction of advanced risk management systems, and the integration of new technologies, the NCS aims to strengthen its operations and improve the experience of its stakeholders.