The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a total revenue generation of ₦1.75 trillion for the first quarter of 2025, reflecting a 29.96% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This milestone was disclosed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a press briefing at the Service’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday, April 22, 2025.
The revenue performance, which exceeded the quarterly target of ₦1.645 trillion by ₦106.5 billion, was attributed to the impact of ongoing reforms introduced by the current administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the supervision of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun.
Monthly collections for Q1 2025 stood at ₦647.88 billion in January, ₦540.11 billion in February, and ₦563.52 billion in March, each surpassing the monthly targets and indicating consistent year-on-year growth across key performance indicators.
During the briefing, the Customs boss also provided updates on the Service’s enforcement operations. He revealed that a total of 298 seizures were recorded within the period, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦7.7 billion. The seizures included 135,474 bags of rice, 65,819 litres of petroleum products, 22 narcotics-related cases valued at ₦730.7 million, and three wildlife trafficking cases worth ₦5.65 billion.
While responding to questions from journalists, the CGC explained that the Service had observed a gradual reduction in petroleum product smuggling in the last two years. However, he noted that no specific commodity communication or disaggregated figures were available at the time. The Service had relied on an aggregated analysis of import and export data to assess the trend.
He identified price disparity between Nigeria and neighbouring countries as the main driver of smuggling. He said “in several Nigerian border communities, petrol is sold between ₦850 and ₦900 per litre, while in the Niger Republic and Benin Republic, the price can be as high as ₦1,600 to ₦2,000 per litre. This significant price gap provides incentives for smugglers to continue illegal trade, despite intensified efforts by the Customs Service.
“To combat the situation, the NCS introduced Operation Whirlwind, initially designed as a short-term intervention. However, the operation has since evolved into a sustained enforcement effort due to its effectiveness, despite the high resource demands it entails”.
On the issue of foreign currency smuggling and financial crimes, the CGC disclosed that the Service had made remarkable progress in curbing cross-border money laundering. Major interceptions were recorded at airports, seaports, and land borders, including $1,264,900, €170,660, and 135,009 Saudi Riyals. Importantly, two convictions have already been secured in connection with these seizures, with a third case nearing conclusion.
He emphasized that beyond the value of seizures, securing convictions remained a top priority for the Service, as it serves as a deterrent and boosts the credibility of the enforcement process.
Concerning Nigeria’s perception globally,he maintained that the NCS is actively collaborating with other government agencies to ensure the country is removed from global watchlists of nations flagged for currency and cross-border smuggling. The CGC noted that the Service had made progress in this regard and would continue to work toward improving the country’s image.
In terms of trade facilitation, the NCS processed 327,928 import declarations and 8,153 export transactions, accounting for a total trade value of ₦36.32 trillion. Despite the lower number of export transactions, their high volume and value pointed to a growing trend in bulk commodity exports.
He also highlighted recent innovations including the expansion of the B’Odogwu clearance platform, the launch of the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programme, and the “Customs Cares” Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. The CSR has already benefitted over 2,000 students and 1,000 residents in local communities, with plans to extend the initiative to other parts of the country.
The Comptroller-General reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to transparency, innovation, and operational excellence, assuring stakeholders that the NCS is on track to surpass its 2025 targets in revenue generation, enforcement, and service delivery.
