Nigeria Customs Service Showcases Achievements at International Customs Day 2025
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) celebrated International Customs Day (ICD) 2025 on Monday, January 27, at the Customs House in Abuja, highlighting its strides in trade facilitation, border security, and economic growth under the theme: “Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity.”
In his address, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi praised the Service for achieving a record-breaking ₦6.1 trillion revenue collection in 2024. This milestone, which exceeded the annual target by 20.2% and represented a 90.4% increase compared to the previous year, was attributed to strategic reforms and the adoption of innovative technologies such as the indigenous B'Odogwu customs clearance platform. The platform facilitated transactions worth billions of naira.
The CGC also spotlighted initiatives like the Advanced Ruling System and the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, which have significantly improved efficiency. These measures, Adeniyi revealed, reduced clearance delays and disputes, achieving a 66.9% reduction in cargo clearance time for certified AEO companies.
On security, the NCS recorded major successes in combating anti-money laundering, drug trafficking, and wildlife smuggling. In 2024, narcotics worth billions of naira were seized, and illegal wildlife shipments valued at ₦5.93 billion were intercepted. The Service also enhanced border security through geo-spatial integration and advanced risk assessment protocols.
“Our trade facilitation initiatives managed imports valued at ₦60.29 trillion and exports worth ₦136.65 trillion in 2024. Additionally, we strategically granted ₦1.68 trillion in concessions to stimulate industrial growth,” Adeniyi said, reaffirming the NCS’s alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic agenda.
Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, the Special Guest of Honour, lauded the NCS for its innovation in addressing trade and security challenges. He reiterated the Armed Forces’ commitment to supporting the Service in advancing national security and economic prosperity.
World Customs Organization (WCO) Secretary-General Ian Sanders, represented at the event, commended customs administrations worldwide for their contributions to trade facilitation and sustainability. He emphasized the importance of modernisation, data-driven operations, and public-private cooperation to achieve global customs goals.
Assistant Comptroller-General Dera Nnadi, in charge of Strategic Research and Policy, highlighted the synergy between the WCO theme and the NCS’s focus on collaboration, consolidation, and innovation.
The event, attended by senior Customs officers, security stakeholders, and industry representatives, underscored the NCS’s unwavering commitment to enhancing its operations and driving Nigeria’s economic development.
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