The Nigerian Customs Services (NCS) has earmarked the sum of N1.13 trillion for the 2025 operations of the service aimed at boosting revenue generation for the country.
The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Finance, Administration and Technical Services, Mr Bello Jibo made this known on Monday in Abuja.
Jibo spoke at the 2025 budget defence session organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise.
In his presentation, Jibo said the sum of N247.1 billion, which represents 21.8 per cent of the budget, is for Personnel Cost.
He said that the sum of N239.9 billion which represents 21.1 per cent of the budget is for Overhead Cost while the sum of N645.4 billion which represents 56.9 per cent is for Capital Cost.
He prayed the National Assembly to consider and approve the proposed budget for the smooth operation of the service.
Jibo recalled that the service was able to generate the sum of N6.105 Tillion in 2024 despite attendant high revenue grants to duty exemptions, waivers, and concessions.
“This is despite continuous drop in cargo throughput due to economic stiffness, the effect of currency floatation that results in unfavourable trade volume and the expected revenue inflow.
“In the face of the de-excise of many excisable commodities, leaving only a few; cigarettes, beer, and alcoholic beverages and government policy measure that exempted payments of Customs Duties and import VAT on some essential food commodities in 2024 among others,” he said.
Earlier, Chairman of the committee, Rep. Leke Abejide (ADC-Kogi) decried the low funding of the NCS 2024 budget.
Abejide expressed concern over the poor funding, saying that the performance of the service would have been better if properly funded.
The chairman put the Personnel Cost performance of the budget at 43.5 per cent, Overhead Cost at 46.3 per cent and Capital Cost at 45.6 per cent for 2024.
According to him, this is despite the service surpassing the target of N5.0 trillion to generate N6.1 trillion, representing an increase of 20.2 per cent in 2024.
“I have gone through your 2024 Budget performance and was flabbergasted, astonished, surprised and lack of word to express the level of poor funding of Nigeria Customs Service.
“This committee would like to know despite outperforming your target, yet you could not fund your Personnel cost, Overhead cost and Capital projects both new and ongoing projects.
“Another shocking revelation is that from January to December in 2024, the 60 per cent of the 1 per cent Comprehensive Import Suspension Scheme (CISS) which was part of the revenue source to fund overhead, personnel cost and capital projects recorded zero revenue.
“It is in the opinion of this honourable committee that you should tell us what went wrong because the purpose of creating 1 per cent CISS was to take care of service providers,”he said.
—–Senate raises Customs 2025 revenue target to N10trn—–
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Customs on Monday raised the Nigeria Customs Service’s 2025 revenue target from N6.584trn to N10trn, following a commendable performance in surpassing its 2024 revenue expectations.
The directive came during a budget defence session where the NCS, represented by Deputy Comptroller General Jibo Bello, presented its 2024 performance and laid out projections for 2025.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East), praised the agency for exceeding its 2024 revenue target of N5.079 trillion by over a trillion naira.
However, he charged the service to aim higher in the new fiscal year, setting a new revenue benchmark of N10 trillion.
“We must challenge ourselves to do better. You have shown capacity by exceeding your previous target, and now we believe you can raise even more”, Jibrin declared.
After reviewing the NCS’s 2025 proposal of N6.584 trillion in revenue and N1.132 trillion in expenditure, the committee unanimously approved the figures for presentation before the full Senate.
The proposal is expected to be tabled at plenary when the red chamber resumes from its Sallah break on Tuesday.
The Senate’s move signals strong confidence in the NCS’s ability to generate critical non-oil revenue, especially amid the country’s ongoing drive to boost internally generated income.
While commending the Service’s financial performance, the Senate committee urged the Customs to intensify efforts in curbing smuggling and the influx of illicit drugs—issues linked to rising insecurity across the country.
Jibrin, in his final remarks, stressed that the battle against narcotics and illegal trade must not be sidelined in the Service’s operations.
“There’s too much flow of illicit drugs across our borders.
“These substances are fuelling banditry and insecurity because many of these criminals are under the influence. Customs must be at the forefront of tackling this menace,” he said.
He also lamented the continued smuggling of goods that could otherwise be produced locally, urging the NCS to enforce import restrictions more strictly and support Nigeria’s push for self-reliance.
“We must eat what we grow and use what we produce.
“Reducing imports will conserve our foreign exchange and boost local industries. It’s not just about revenue; it’s about economic development and job creation,” he added.
He concluded by noting that stronger enforcement against illegal imports would encourage investment in domestic production, unlock idle raw materials, and create employment opportunities for millions of Nigerians.
