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By Steve Agbota
Stakeholders, including clearing agents and freight forwarders, have commended the revenue performance, trade facilitation efforts, and service delivery of the Nigeria Customs Service commands in Zone A during the first quarter of the year 2026.
Customs Commands in Zone ‘A’ are those scattered across the six geopolitical states of the South West, both at the land, airport and seaport borders. Some of the prominent Commands in Zone ‘A’ include the Apapa Port Command, Tin Can Island Port (TCIP) Command, Ports and Terminals Multi-Services Limited (PTML) Command, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command and the Western Marine Command.
Others are the Ijora Export Terminal, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Murtala Mohammed Cargo Airport Command, Seme Border Command, Idiroko Border Command, Ogun State, the Oyo/Osun Command and Ondo Command.
Many stakeholders, who commented on the scorecard of the NCS Commands in the zone within the first quarter of the year, said that although Customs officers need to improve in their service delivery, they performed credibly within the period under review.
The assessment focused mainly on resumption time, closing time, prompt attention to, and resolution of complaints from the business community, physical appearance, trade facilitation and revenue generation.
Many scored the NCS in the Zone high on resumption time and closing time. According to them, in most of the Commands, resumption time and closing time, as well as prompt response to complaints and physical appearance of officers, are as high as 95 per cent.
For instance, Uju Clifford, a freight forwarder who plies his business between the Seme Border Command and Apapa Area 1 Command, said he felt sorry for Customs officers because most of them resumed as early as 7.45 am and closed around 8 pm.
Clifford narrated a story of how his container was one day detained at the FOU for issues related to documentation, but when he rushed to the Command in the evening to sort out the cargo, he witnessed that some officers had left by 8 pm.
Clifford, who hinted that he would pursue his job till late in the evening at the Apapa Area 1 Command, added that under the present management of the NCS led by Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, he has witnessed the highest level of discipline among officers.
“They look neat and decent. They talk to us politely, not like those days when they shouted at us. I commend the leadership of the current CG. The NCS has continued to demonstrate resilience and efficiency in the first and second quarters of 2026, with its performance scorecard reflecting strong achievements in revenue collection, enforcement, compliance, and strategic seizures across major commands.
Similarly, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command maintained its reputation for precision enforcement, intercepting illicit consignments while ensuring legitimate trade flows without disruption. The Idiroko Border Command, led by Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, scored high on enforcement drives, discipline, wellness activities and officers’ welfare. Stakeholders across the maritime and aviation sectors also commended the Service’s overall performance.
Also speaking on the development, Mrs Adeola Ogunleye, a maritime industry player, said: “The Customs Service has shown remarkable consistency in revenue generation and enforcement. Their efficiency in Q1 and Q2 has been a stabilising factor for the economy.”
Assessing the Service’s performance scorecard within the period under review, the National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr Emmanuel Onyeme, noted that men and officers of the NCS attended to their duties with passion and commitment.
He also saluted the high-level professionalism displayed by personnel, while encouraging management and operatives within the zone to maintain the traction. “The reality on the ground is that the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service in Zone ‘A’ have been very patriotic and professional in the discharge of their duties in recent months, particularly as regards promptness to duty and attending to clearing agents with courtesy and professionalism.
“I commend the officers in the commands across the zone for discharging their duties so well. This shows that the high-level professionalism and patriotism of the Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi are running down the ladder.
“I also want to commend all the Customs Area Controllers in the zone for being a very good example to their officers. The implication of this good development will be more revenue for the government and enhanced trade facilitation, and it will boost the cordial relationship existing between Customs and the stakeholders, especially Clearing Agents and Freight Forwarders”, Onyeme said.
Meanwhile, Mr Chinedu Okafor, a freight forwarder at Tin Can Island, also evaluating service delivery in the cargo clearance system, said: “The seizures recorded this year are proof of Customs’ vigilance. Beyond that, clearance procedures have become faster, and revenue recoveries are impressive. Why we can speak of the need for improvement across the board, we must commend the Customs for taking the lead and continue to incline to its appeal for other players like us to step up.”
Also speaking, Dr Ibrahim Musa, an aviation logistics expert, emphasised the Service’s resilience,
“At the airport command, operations have been seamless. Revenue targets are being met, enforcement remains strong, and compliance levels are high. The Service deserves commendation for balancing trade facilitation with security.”
The Nigeria Customs Service posted a strong performance in Q1 and Q2 2026, surpassing revenue targets, recording billions in recoveries, and executing major seizures across key commands. Stakeholders have lauded the Service’s efficiency, noting its resilience in revenue collection, enforcement, and compliance.
