By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
SOME OF the economic reforms under President Bola Tinubu have propelled the Nigeria Customs Service to an all-time high revenue of ₦1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, more than double the ₦600 billion generated in the same period two years earlier.
The figure, described by officials as unprecedented, highlights a structural shift in customs administration driven by digital innovation, aggressive enforcement, and a new regime of accountability.
Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi confirmed that the surge was achieved despite a drop in import volumes, reflecting the impact of systemic efficiency over sheer trade volume.
Aligning with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, he said: “Efficiency, transparency, and enforcement—that’s what changed.”
Adeniyi made the statement in a forthcoming State House documentary marking the President’s second year in office.
At the heart of the transformation is the E-Customs Modernisation Project, a $3.2 billion initiative to overhaul Nigeria’s ports and border operations.
Scheduled for full deployment in phases, the system promises to digitise cargo handling, payment infrastructure, and surveillance nationwide.
Once operational, it is projected to generate up to $250 billion in cumulative revenue over the next two decades.
In tandem, the Nigeria Customs Service has activated its Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, which fast-tracks cargo for compliant importers, reducing port congestion and encouraging adherence to customs protocols.
“Trust and efficiency are the foundation. If you’re compliant, you move faster,” Adeniyi said.
Anti-smuggling efforts have also intensified. Over ₦64 billion has been recovered from under-assessed imports in the last nine months, while major smuggling corridors—particularly at Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto—have been disrupted.
Joint border patrols with the Army, DSS, and Police now utilise drones, surveillance systems, and data intelligence to intercept illicit goods in real time.
To ease trade further, the Customs Service is rolling out the National Single Window—an integrated digital platform that connects all cargo clearance agencies.
Currently, importers must manually engage with up to 15 agencies. Once the system is operational, processes will shift online, cutting clearance times significantly.
Already, timelines at Apapa and Tin Can Ports have dropped from 21 days to just 7–10 days for compliant traders.
Exports are also seeing renewed focus. Fast-track lanes for agro-exports and collaboration with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council are helping to streamline outbound cargo procedures.
In 2024, Nigeria exported over ₦340 billion worth of solid minerals and agricultural products through formal channels—up 38% from the previous year. Customs expects that figure to climb further in 2025.
Internally, the Service is undergoing institutional transformation. More than 1,800 officers have been trained in artificial intelligence, risk profiling, and data analytics.
“We are becoming an intelligence-led agency,” Adeniyi said, adding that physical inspection is gradually giving way to modern, data-driven operations.
In a statement released on 24 May 2025 by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, the administration reaffirmed its directive to the Customs Service: close revenue leakages, facilitate legitimate trade, and boost national income—without adding undue pressure on Nigerian citizens.
