The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a landmark achievement under the stewardship of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who marked his first year in office with an impressive performance report. Notably, the NCS achieved an unprecedented daily revenue collection of ₦58.5 billion on June 13, 2024
The Customs Comptroller General (CCG) revealed this on Wednesday in a press conference to mark his one year in office. Reflecting an enhancement in operational efficiency and strategic policy implementation.
Shipping Position Daily notes that since his appointment on June 19, 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adeniyi has overseen a transformative period for the NCS. Under his leadership, the NCS has aligned its operations with the President’s Policy Advisory Document (PAD), focusing on nine priority areas within its core responsibilities: trade facilitation, revenue collection, societal protection, and stakeholder collaboration.
Transforming Trade Facilitation
One of the key accomplishments under Adeniyi’s tenure is the significant progress in trade facilitation. The NCS aimed to transform Nigeria into Africa’s most efficient trading nation, a goal supported by initiatives such as decongesting ports, enforcing a 48-hour clearance directive at seaports, and implementing the National Single Window Trading Platform to streamline import and export processes.
The designation of a dedicated terminal for exports at the Port of Lilypond has been particularly successful. Initially handling 317 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs), the terminal now manages 7,464 SGDs, accounting for 19.49% of the total export transactions recorded in 2023. By the first quarter of 2024, the terminal processed 29.32% of all export transactions.
Additionally, the NCS’s adherence to the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) reforms has yielded remarkable improvements. The NCS climbed from 34th to the top position among 36 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) assessed, with a percentage score increase from 18.53% to 100%.
Revenue Collection Milestones
The NCS reported a 74% increase in revenue collection over the past year, accumulating a total of ₦4.49 trillion between June 2023 and May 2024, compared to ₦2.58 trillion during the same period in the previous year. The average monthly revenue collection surged by 70.13%, from ₦202 billion to ₦343 billion.
Several strategic initiatives contributed to these gains:
- A revenue recovery exercise retrieved ₦15 billion.
- A 90-day window for the regularization of uncustomed vehicles generated ₦2.79 billion.
- Decongesting 1,705 overtime containers and 981 vehicles resulted in an additional ₦1.5 billion.
Enhancing National Security
The NCS has also intensified its efforts to safeguard national security. Significant interceptions include:
- 63 seizures of animal and wildlife products valued at ₦566 million.
- Seven seizures of arms and ammunition.
- 127 cases of narcotics and pharmaceutical product seizures worth over ₦6 billion.
In a focused effort to curb petroleum smuggling, the NCS seized 2.93 million liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) through 724 interventions. Operation Whirlwind, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), remains ongoing to dismantle smuggling networks.
Strengthening Collaborations
Adeniyi has emphasized strategic communication and stakeholder engagement, evident in the revival of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC’s) Conference, which brought together diverse stakeholders to address pressing issues in customs operations. The NCS also spearheaded the revival of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, fostering interagency cooperation.
Looking Ahead
Comptroller-General Adeniyi reassured Nigerians of the NCS’s commitment to improving trade facilitation, revenue collection, and national security. Future efforts will focus on achieving a stable exchange rate for imports, ensuring compliance with customs laws, advancing automation through customs modernization, and effectively implementing trade agreements like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
As the NCS continues to work towards its mandate, the achievements of the past year under Adeniyi’s leadership set a robust foundation for sustained progress, contributing to a more prosperous and secure Nigeria.
