From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated ₦1.75 trillion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025, a 29.96% increase from the same period in 2024, announced Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi during a press briefing at NCS headquarters in Abuja on April 22.
The performance exceeded the quarterly target of ₦1.645 trillion by ₦106.5 billion, driven by reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration and oversight by Finance Minister Wale Edun.
Monthly collections included ₦647.88 billion in January, ₦540.11 billion in February, and ₦563.52 billion in March, each surpassing targets. Adeniyi attributed the success to innovations like the B’Odogwu clearance platform and the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) programme. Additionally, NCS granted ₦95.1 billion in duty exemptions on essential food imports from 2024 to Q1 2025, contributing to reduced prices for maize, rice, and sorghum.
On enforcement, NCS recorded 298 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦7.7 billion, including 135,474 bags of rice worth over ₦940 million, 65,819 litres of petroleum products, 22 narcotics cases valued at ₦730.7 million, and three wildlife trafficking cases worth ₦5.65 billion. Adeniyi noted a decline in petroleum smuggling, stating, “In several Nigerian border communities, petrol is sold between ₦850 and ₦900 per litre, while in the Niger Republic and Benin Republic, the price can be as high as ₦1,600 to ₦2,000 per litre. This significant price gap provides incentives for smugglers to continue illegal trade, despite intensified efforts by the Customs Service.”
Operation Whirlwind, initially a short-term measure, has become a sustained effort to curb smuggling.
NCS also intercepted $1,264,900, €170,660, and 135,009 Saudi Riyals in currency smuggling cases, securing two convictions with a third pending.
Adeniyi emphasised: “To combat the situation, the NCS introduced Operation Whirlwind, initially designed as a short-term intervention. However, the operation has since evolved into a sustained enforcement effort due to its effectiveness, despite the high resource demands it entails.”
In trade facilitation, NCS processed 327,928 import declarations and 8,153 export transactions, totalling ₦36.32 trillion in trade value, reflecting growth in bulk commodity exports. The “Customs Cares” CSR initiative supported over 2,000 students and 1,000 residents, with plans for nationwide expansion.
Adeniyi reaffirmed NCS’s commitment to transparency and innovation, targeting to exceed the 2025 revenue goal of ₦6.58 trillion, though the National Assembly proposed ₦12 trillion.