Last week, the Nigeria Customs Service celebrated what has become an annual ritual; the International Customs Day 2025.
The day is observed on January 26 worldwide, in honour of the dedication of customs staff in advancing trade facilitation and fostering sustainable economic growth in their countries.
As is expected, the Comptroller General of the Service; Bashir Adewale Adeniyi reeled-out numerous achievements, among which is the 66 per cent reduction in cargo clearance time as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance trade facilitation, improve service delivery and ultimately boost revenue generation and trade efficiency for the benefit of the Nigerian economy.
Adeniyi also seized the opportunity of the celebration to reveal that the Service is prioritising trade facilitation, border security, and economic growth this year as the foundation of its operations.
In 2024, the NCS accumulated N6.1 trillion in revenue, surpassing its target by 20.2 percent and achieving a 90.4 percent increase from the previous year. The Service also managed imports worth N60.29 trillion and exports of N136.65 trillion, Adeniyi reported.
As a maritime media organisation, we feel duty-bound to align with the Customs Service, and use the opportunity of this year’s global customs day to commend leadership of the service under Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
In just a little one year at the helm of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has earned a reputation as a transformative leader, driving significant changes in revenue collection, trade facilitation, national security, and stakeholder collaboration. Appointed shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s inauguration, Adeniyi has steered the NCS through an ambitious agenda, making notable strides while identifying areas for further improvement.
One of the most notable achievements is the dramatic improvement in NCS’s ranking by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC). The NCS moved from 34th place in 2023 to being tied at the top in 2024, reflecting an 81.5% increase in efficiency and service delivery.
To ease the challenges of trade, the Customs Service implemented innovative measures to reduce delays and simplify its processes.
Among these is the Advanced Ruling System, which provides binding decisions on the classification and valuation of goods before they arrive in Nigeria. This system, according to Adeniyi, has significantly reduced disputes and clearance delays.
Also, the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programme, which was launched by the World Custom Organisation in 2007, has cut cargo clearance time by 66.9 percent, with certified companies now experiencing an average release time of 43 hours.
Additionally, the recently developed B’Odogwu customs clearance platform, though experiencing its own challenges, has already processed billions in transactions during its pilot phase.
No doubt, Adeniyi has prioritized strategic communications and engagement with stakeholders, both nationally and internationally. The revival of the annual Comptroller-General of Customs Conference, the enhancement of the National Trade Facilitation Committee’s activities, and new collaborations with sister agencies, including military and para-military agencies have fostered a more cooperative and efficient customs environment.
Apparently beating the records further, the Service says it has reduced cargo clearance time from 43 hours to 28 hours., through the deployment of state-of-the-art technology.
In the area of personnel development, the current management of the service has serially promoted officers and men of the service. The number is in thousands and this is good for the service.
We are however worried that the National Assembly has astronomically increased the Service’s revenue target for 2025 by 100% from the N6tn collected in 2024 to N12tn.
While we appreciate that the Federal Government requires more revenue to meet rising needs, it is also apt to point out that whatever revenue that the Nigeria Customs Service is required to collect would be paid by importers.
We think that the Federal Government should devote more attention to ensuring a more stable exchange rate. This will help importers to plan their business activities effectively. Collaborating closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria to stabilise exchange rate for Customs duty payment will provide the predictability needed for economic planning and growth.
While not saying that the N12tn revenue target is unattainable, we advise that this should not take precedence over trade facilitation. The current management of the NCS has been credited with facilitating trade and striking a balance between trade facilitation and revenue collection.
Beyond trade facilitation, Customs is stepping-up its efforts to combat illicit trade and secure Nigeria’s borders. The areas of focus include: anti-money laundering, drug trafficking, and cultural heritage protection.
While significant steps have been taken towards modernization, the complete transition to a fully automated customs process is still underway. Accelerating the implementation of the National Single Window trading platform and further reducing manual processes and human contacts will enhance efficiency and further reduce corruption opportunities.
