Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) trade facilitation efforts have been very impressive, managing imports valued at N60.29 trillion and exports of N136.65 trillion, while strategically providing N1.68 trillion in concessions to boost economic growth and industrial development across various
sectors.
The Service also demonstrated exceptional fiscal performance in 2024,
collecting N6.1 trillion in revenue which exceeded targets by 20.2% and represented a dramatic 90.4% year-over-year increase.
The Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, highlighted these achievements as NCS model contributions to national prosperity on the occasion of the International Customs Day held at NCS headquarters, Abuja on Monday, 27 January, 2024.
The Comptroller General noted that the World Customs Organization’s (WCO) theme for 2025, “Customs
Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity,” perfectly
encapsulates the foundational mandates of the NCS. He said that core responsibilities –
facilitating legitimate trade, securing our national borders, and fostering
economic growth – form the bedrock of NCS operations.
Adeniyi stressed that the Service’s strategic approach
harmoniously balances trade facilitation with robust security measures, directly
contributing to Nigeria’s economic advancement.
He added that unprecedented
achievement of ₦6.1 trillion in revenue collection, coupled with significant
security interventions, exemplifies NCS practical commitment to these mandates.
“In pursuit of operational efficiency, the Service has made significant strides in modernizing our processes and procedures. Our commitment to efficiency is
evidenced by several key achievements over the years. Notably, the successful
implementation of the Advanced Ruling System, providing binding decisions on
classification and valuation before shipment arrival, thereby reducing clearance
delays and disputes, is one of the resent reference to our efforts to deliver efficiency. Moreover, the remarkable success of our Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, which has achieved an average release time of 43 hours for certified companies, representing a 66.9% reduction in cargo clearance time
is another recent instance,” the CGC stated.
According to the Customs boss, over the years the Service has modernised its processes to make the trading experience soothing for Nigerians. He reminded that late last year NCS announced the indigenous development and deployment of its customs clearance
platform, ‘B’Odogwu’, which has already processed transactions worth billions in revenue within its pilot phase.
He maintained that in terms of security, globally there is increasingly a complex interplay
between illicit trade, technological advancement, and transnational criminal
networks. The CGC averred that addressing these challenges, the Service like other Customs
Administrations, focuses on several critical risk domains identified by the World
Customs Organization, which
include:
a. Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-terrorism Financing.
Adeniyi emphasized that the Service
maintains vigilance against bulk cash smuggling, trade-based money
laundering, and illicit trafficking of high-value commodities.
On Cultural Heritage Protection, he said that NCS enforcement efforts safeguard against the illicit trafficking of cultural objects and artifacts, particularly given
increasing global concerns about trafficking from conflict zones.
On Drug Trafficking, he noted that the Service has intensified response to evolving narcotics
threats, particularly addressing the shift from traditional narcotics to
pharmaceutical and synthetic drug abuse, informing that in 2024, this resulted in 105 seizures of narcotics and illicit drugs.
On Environmental Protection, the NCS boss stated that the enforcement actions against wildlife
trafficking, illegal timber trade, and hazardous waste smuggling saw
significant success, with 76 seizures of animal/wildlife products valued at
₦5.93 billion.
“The Service is also strengthening its technological infrastructure
through: a. Integration of geo-spatial technology and advanced detection
methods. b. Deployment of sophisticated scanning systems at key ports. c.
Enhanced intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities. d. Implementation of
technology driven risk assessment protocols,” he declared.
Adeniyi said that guided by this year’s theme “Customs Delivering on its
Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity,” Customs strategic vision aligns seamlessly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s policy direction
and global customs best practices, focusing on transformative initiatives that will
revolutionize trade facilitation and enforcement.
He hinted that the nationwide trade
modernization deployment, comprehensive AEO program implementation,
enhanced technology-driven risk management, and the groundbreaking
establishment of the Nigeria Customs Service University for Trade and
Technology will serve as additional key performance indicators as the Service evaluates
its achievements at the end of the year.
“Moving forward, we will continue to rely on the unwavering support of
His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr.Olawale Edun,
alongside the dedication of our officers, men, stakeholders, and international
partners to achieve and surpass our performance targets. As we commemorate
International Customs Day, we renew our pledge to excellence in customs administration, united in our mission to forge a more secure and prosperous Nigeria through efficient service delivery,” the CGC enthused.