The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported a robust performance for the first quarter of 2025, with revenue collection surging to ₦1.75 trillion, representing a 29.96% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This was disclosed on Monday by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a press briefing at the Service’s headquarters in Abuja. According to him, the quarterly performance exceeded the Q1 revenue target of ₦1.645 trillion by ₦106.5 billion, achieving 106.47% of the projected benchmark.
Adeniyi noted that the impressive revenue figures are the result of sustained reforms initiated under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the supervision of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun. He emphasized that the data represents the dedication and hard work of customs officers nationwide, who are committed to stopping illegal imports, facilitating lawful trade, and protecting national revenue. A breakdown of monthly collections showed January 2025 recording ₦647.8 billion, surpassing its monthly target by 18.12% and posting a 65.77% increase from January 2024. February generated ₦540.1 billion, 1.3% above target and a 19.97% increase year-on-year, while March accounted for ₦563.5 billion, exceeding its goal by 2.7% and growing 11.22% over March 2024.
In terms of enforcement, the NCS made 298 seizures during the period under review, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦7.69 billion. This marks a 78.41% increase compared to the last quarter of 2024, although it represents a 19.7% decline when compared with Q1 of 2024, a drop Adeniyi attributed to improved compliance resulting from enhanced stakeholder engagement. Among the seizures were 135,474 bags of rice in 159 cases, petroleum products totaling 65,819 liters in 61 cases, and 22 cases of narcotics valued at ₦730.7 million. Additionally, there were three seizures of wildlife products with a staggering DPV of ₦5.65 billion, underscoring the NCS’s commitment to curbing environmental crimes in line with global conventions.
Other notable confiscations included textile fabrics, retreaded tires, and pharmaceuticals. Adeniyi said these developments reinforce the Service’s strategic focus on intelligence-led operations, increased use of technology, and collaboration with international partners, particularly in the fight against drug trafficking and wildlife smuggling. He highlighted that operations will continue to be fine-tuned to meet the evolving tactics of smugglers, adding that a combination of surveillance and non-intrusive inspection technology is helping to improve detection and deterrence.
On trade facilitation, the NCS processed 327,928 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) for imports, amounting to a total mass of 4.91 billion kilograms with a Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value of ₦14.8 trillion. This reflects a 5.28% increase in import transactions and a significant 40.14% rise in import mass compared to the first quarter of 2024, as well as a 26.72% increase in CIF value. Export transactions, however, showed a 24.4% drop compared to Q1 2024, with 8,153 SGDs processed. Nevertheless, the volume of exports surged to 5.03 billion kilograms, a 348% jump from Q1 2024’s 1.12 billion kilograms, while export value remained stable at ₦21.5 trillion. Adeniyi explained that this pattern indicates a shift toward bulk commodity exports, with fewer but much larger transactions signaling improved efficiency in export processing.
Overall trade value handled by the NCS in the first quarter was ₦36.3 trillion, which Adeniyi said is a testament to Nigeria’s deepening integration into global commerce despite prevailing global economic headwinds. He said this performance underscores the effectiveness of various trade facilitation reforms and positions Nigeria as a competitive player in the international trade space.
The Customs boss also outlined key institutional achievements during the quarter. Among them is the continued rollout of the indigenously developed customs clearance platform, B’Odogwu, to more customs formations across the country, which has improved operational efficiency. The NCS also officially launched its Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) Programme in February, aimed at recognizing compliant businesses and granting them benefits such as expedited clearance and reduced inspections, in line with World Customs Organization standards.
In March, the Service launched a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative tagged “Customs Cares,” targeting areas such as education, health, the environment, food security, social investment, and the creative economy. The programme commenced at Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, where 2,000 students received school supplies including 10,000 notebooks, 2,000 school bags, and 4,000 pens. The school was also equipped with CCTV systems and solar-powered lighting. A medical outreach held concurrently catered to 1,000 community members. The initiative is being expanded across all six geopolitical zones.
In response to food security concerns, Adeniyi said the NCS provided duty exemptions for essential imports like maize, rice, and sorghum. These exemptions, he noted, have led to a 12-18% reduction in food prices, citing Q1 waivers on maize worth ₦45.3 billion FOB, rice worth ₦751.6 million, and sorghum valued at ₦2.3 billion. He added that these measures were designed to support the Federal Government’s food security policy and bring immediate relief to Nigerians.
Concluding the briefing, Adeniyi reiterated the NCS’s commitment to transparency and stakeholder engagement, stressing that the Service will continue to build on its current momentum to improve revenue generation, enhance border security, facilitate trade, and support national development goals.
