A Year of Transformation at the Nigeria Customs Service
On January 14, 2025, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, provided an in-depth review of the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) activities for 2024 at the Service’s Corporate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja. The briefing highlighted transformative strides that redefined trade facilitation, revenue generation, and stakeholder engagement in Nigeria’s international trade landscape.
Reflecting on the Service’s journey, Adeniyi emphasized the remarkable growth in revenue and trade value, achieved despite global economic uncertainties. Total trade handled by the Service surged to ₦196.94 trillion in 2024, a 179.3% increase from ₦70.50 trillion in 2023. This leap was attributed to the adoption of innovative systems and policies that improved operational efficiency.
Modernization and Efficiency: A Year of Firsts
Key achievements included the implementation of an Advanced Ruling System, which streamlined pre-arrival classification and valuation processes, cutting clearance delays. In its debut year, the system facilitated transactions worth over ₦102 billion in duty-paid value, setting a precedent for transparent and predictable trade operations.
Additionally, the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, piloted in 2024, drastically reduced cargo clearance times from five days to an average of 43 hours for certified companies. This success positions the program for full rollout in 2025, underscoring the Service’s commitment to global best practices.
Export Boom and Enhanced Trade Facilitation
Export trade performance saw an unprecedented 219.5% growth in value, with CIF values reaching ₦136.65 trillion compared to ₦42.77 trillion in 2023. The mass of exported goods rose by 234%, indicating the increasing competitiveness of Nigerian products on the global stage. The Service’s initiatives, including partnerships with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), supported SMEs and exporters, earning Nigeria accolades at international forums like Biashara Afrika.
Technological Innovation and Stakeholder Engagement
2024 marked a pivotal year in the Service’s digital transformation with the launch of ‘B’Odogwu,’ an indigenously developed customs clearance platform. Piloted at the PTML command, the platform facilitated transactions generating ₦31 billion in revenue, reinforcing the potential of home-grown technological solutions.
The NCS also strengthened its stakeholder engagement efforts, collaborating with the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria to streamline medical goods clearance, thereby supporting the government’s healthcare affordability agenda.
Global Recognition and Challenges Ahead
The year ended with the NCS climbing 33 places in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) rankings, a testament to the Service’s reformative drive. Despite challenges such as security concerns, the progress achieved in trade facilitation and operational efficiency solidified the NCS’s role as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic growth.
As Adeniyi concluded, “2024 was a year of innovation and transformation. As we step into 2025, we are committed to consolidating these gains, fostering partnerships, and driving Nigeria’s trade competitiveness to new heights.”
This reflection on 2024 captures the NCS’s dedication to balancing revenue collection with trade facilitation, ensuring Nigeria’s global trade trajectory remains on an upward path.
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