The innovations, reforms and initiatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which continue to yield impressive revenues to government coffers under Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, have again drawn applause and support for the Service
By Edu Abade
The Federal Government has commended the Nigeria Customs Service as a strategic partner in the implementation of fiscal, monetary and structural reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that efficient border management and effective checks on smuggling remain central to economic stability and growth.
Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, who gave the commendation on Monday, January 26, 2026, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), describing the Service as a critical institution at the intersection of revenue mobilization, national security and trade facilitation.
The Minister, who spoke in Abuja on the sidelines of the 2026 International Customs Day (ICD) celebration, where she commended officers and men of the Service for sustaining professionalism under increasing public and economic expectations, also described N7.2 trillion revenue generated by the NCS for 2025 as ‘impressive.’
Uzoka-Anite reaffirmed that efficient border management remains central to economic stability and growth, saying, “The Federal Government recognizes Customs as a strategic partner in the implementation of fiscal, monetary and structural reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has demonstrated that revenue assurance, trade facilitation and border security can be pursued simultaneously when institutions are guided by integrity, data-driven decision-making and strong leadership.”
She assured stakeholders that the Federal Ministry of Finance would continue to provide policy direction and institutional support to strengthen Customs capacity, improve transparency and modernize operations across the country’s ports and border formations.
Speaking, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the NCS generated N7.281 trillion in 2025, exceeding its approved annual target of N6.584 trillion, stressing that the performance represents a significant year-on-year growth and reflects the impact of disciplined enforcement, improved compliance, process automation and sustained engagement with the trading community.
He noted that, beyond revenue, the Service intensified efforts to protect society through intelligence-led operations, leading to thousands of seizures of prohibited and harmful goods, including narcotics, illicit pharmaceuticals, arms, ammunition, wildlife products, and substandard consumer items.
“These interventions were aimed at safeguarding public health, protecting the environment and strengthening national security, while ensuring that legitimate trade was not hindered. The NCS remains committed to striking the right balance between facilitation and control, ensuring that lawful trade flows seamlessly without compromising security or revenue,” Adeniyi said.
Also speaking, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Customs, Leke Abejide, stressed the need for greater recognition of the NCS within the country’s security architecture.
The lawmaker pledged continued legislative backing for reforms that strengthen the Service, saying, “Anything that improves the welfare, capacity and operational efficiency of the Nigeria Customs Service has my full support.”
In her intervention, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, commended the NCS for its role in facilitating trade and securing Nigeria’s borders, describing the Service as a key partner in the country’s economic transformation drive.
She said, “Efficient Customs operations are essential to improving Nigeria’s competitiveness, attracting investment and supporting industrial growth, particularly at a time when the government is focused on expanding non-oil revenue.”
Oduwole aligned with calls for deeper inter-agency collaboration, stressing that trade facilitation and national security must move in tandem to deliver meaningful economic outcomes.
In a related development, Adeniyi charged younger officers of the NCS to aspire toward global expertise in Post Clearance Audit (PCA), describing the tool as a cornerstone for modern customs careers and the future of Nigerian trade facilitation.
Speaking at the conclusion of the five-day World Customs Organization (WCO) Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme on January 23, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja, Adeniyi emphasized that mastering these emerging audit techniques is the most effective way for new recruits to align their professional growth with international best practices.
“For the younger officers who are here, this might be the first time you’re experiencing this kind of thing. But our respected WCO experts started from somewhere. Post Clearance Audit is one of those emerging tools developed by WCO, and this is the best way in which you can start your career.
“I want you to begin to look to your aspiration. Let it be shaped towards that dream that one day, you can also become a PCA expert, he admonished.
The CGC further described the five-day engagement as insightful and transformative. He noted that the discussions and practical sessions exposed officers to advanced Post Clearance Audit tools and techniques that would significantly enhance their analytical capacity and operational effectiveness.
According to the CGC, the workshop provided officers with clearer perspectives on modern audit practices, risk management and compliance monitoring, stressing that the knowledge gained would directly support trade facilitation while safeguarding revenue and national economic interests.
He reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to continuous reform, effective collaboration with international partners and the deployment of modern tools to align Nigeria’s customs administration with global best practices.
While speaking, WCO Trade Facilitation Expert, James Clark, commended the NCS for its demonstrated willingness to embrace reform and modern customs practices. He noted that the Service has made commendable progress within a relatively short period.
Clark highlighted the importance of institutional commitment, capacity building and consistent application of Post Clearance Audit tools in achieving long-term success, adding that Nigeria is well-positioned to deepen its gains if the momentum is maintained.
“We are always looking for that time when you will reach what we call the impact level. Impact level means you have created a more effective, more facilitative trading environment. I have the utmost confidence in your ability to do this. I thank you all for your commitment this week and for engaging with the experts and with me for the past five days. Do not hesitate to reach out to us going forward,” he stated.
The five -day WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, funded by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs of the United Kingdom, ran from January 19, 2026 to January 23, 2026 and focused on strengthening customs reforms, with particular emphasis on Post Clearance Audit (PCA) and risk-based compliance management.
The conclusion of the WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme marks another milestone in the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing efforts to promote ease of doing business, strengthen compliance, and position the country as a competitive and reliable trading partner on the global stage.
In its quest for efficiency, the NCS also concluded a high-level, two-day management workshop aimed at accelerating trade facilitation reforms and streamlining the ease of doing business across the federation. Organized in partnership with Reverso Business Services Limited, the training, which ran between January 22, 2026 and January 23, 2026, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to digital modernization and the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks within Nigeria’s trade corridors.
The engagement forms part of the Service’s broader reform agenda under Adeniyi’s leadership aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, aligning operations with global best practices, and positioning Customs as a key driver of Nigeria’s economic growth.
The final day of the workshop focused on emerging trends in global trade, digital transformation and the evolving role of modern Customs administrations. Senior officers of the Service engaged in robust discussions on adaptive strategies, operational efficiency and stakeholder collaboration, reinforcing the NCS’s resolve to remain responsive in a rapidly changing trade environment.
Speaking at the session, Adeniyi underscored the dynamic nature of international trade and reiterated that the NCS is proactively implementing reforms to meet present and future challenges.
“Our environment will continue to be very dynamic. What will not change, however, is Nigeria’s expectation that Customs will contribute meaningfully to economic prosperity, public health and national security. When these elements come together, we are better positioned to facilitate trade,” he stated.
He further challenged officers to uphold high professional standards, describing the Service’s ongoing transformation as a deliberate effort to become a reference Customs administration known for accountability, responsiveness and performance.
“These are standards we voluntarily hold ourselves to. We want to be that reference organization, responsive to our commitments and obligations and supportive of government efforts to create an environment where the economy can prosper,” Adeniyi added.
Also speaking, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Reverso Business Services Limited, Ayokunnu Ojeniyi, commended the NCS for its openness to innovation and institutional improvement. He emphasized the importance of embracing change and sustaining capacity-building initiatives to support effective trade facilitation.
“If you don’t take change by the hand, it will seize you by the throat. The environment is changing, and Customs must continue to manage that change proactively,” he said, urging participants to translate the lessons from the workshop into practical improvements across their respective formations.
The workshop aligns with the Nigeria Customs Service’s ongoing modernization drive, which includes process automation, enhanced stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships designed to improve service delivery and trade efficiency.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the WCO, Ian Saunders, has described Nigeria’s Time Release Study (TRS) as a practical and evidence-based reform capable of strengthening border efficiency, boosting trade competitiveness within trade corridors in Africa and enhancing national safety.
Saunders stated this on Monday, January 26, 2026, during the presentation of the TRS Report conducted at Tin Can Island Port, noting that the study offers Nigeria “specific and objective insights” into how its border clearance processes function and where targeted improvements can be made.
He pointed out that the TRS, implemented with the support of the WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme, goes beyond policy formulation by translating reform goals into measurable operational outcomes, adding, “The findings of this study provide Nigeria with a clear opportunity to deliver equally clear improvements that will strengthen both the economy and the safety of the country.”
He stressed that the TRS remains one of the WCO’s core performance measurement tools, widely deployed by Customs administrations globally to improve transparency, predictability and efficiency without compromising security.
The WCO chief noted that while Customs plays a central role in trade facilitation, the successful implementation of TRS recommendations requires collective action involving government agencies, the private sector and the broader trading community.
“Trade facilitation is not achieved by policy alone. It is realized through consistent, efficient and sound practices. The Time Release Study shows what is working, what is not, and where leadership and investment are required,” he added.
While delivering a keynote address, the Special Guest of Honour, Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, said the TRS aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to data-driven reforms to improve trade efficiency and reduce transaction costs across Nigeria’s ports and borders.
She described the TRS as a strategic policy instrument that enables governments to objectively measure performance, identify bottlenecks and strengthen transparency within the trade ecosystem.
“The Time Release Study is not merely a diagnostic exercise; it is a reform tool that supports smarter regulation, evidence-based decision-making and improved coordination across border agencies.” The Minister said.
She noted that efficient clearance processes are essential to investor confidence and economic growth, adding that competitiveness in global trade is increasingly defined by speed, certainty and compliance.
The Minister assured stakeholders of the Federal Government’s continued support for reforms that modernize border management, strengthen institutional capacity and promote collaboration among agencies involved in trade regulation.
Similarly, the representative of the United Kingdom High Commission to Nigeria commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its proactive adoption of the WCO trade facilitation tools, notably the Time Release Study (TRS) scheme, which is supported by an initiative of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
In the same vein, Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) in charge of Strategic Research and Policy (SR&P) Department, Dera Nnadi, who shared insights from the TRS report, asserted that the outcome of the study will guide operational adjustments, policy refinement and infrastructure planning, as the Service works with stakeholders to deliver a more predictable and efficient trade environment.
