Tinubu’s Reforms Drive Nigeria Customs to Record ₦1.3 Trillion Revenue in Q1 2025 — CGC Adeniyi

……Presidency Commends Service’s Role in Boosting Non-Oil Revenue

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported a historic revenue collection of ₦1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, with Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi attributing the achievement to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Adeniyi, in a statement issued over the weekend, said the milestone signals a fundamental shift in the Service’s operations—driven by efficiency, transparency, and digital transformation.

“This record performance is not a result of increased import volumes, which have actually declined due to forex challenges. It is the outcome of improved operational efficiency, smarter enforcement, and a commitment to plugging revenue leakages,” he said.

According to the CGC, the Q1 2025 figures represent more than a 100 percent increase compared to the ₦600 billion generated in the same period in 2023.

The Presidency, through a statement signed by Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, applauded the Customs for exceeding expectations and supporting the federal government’s push to grow non-oil revenue. The commendation comes ahead of a special State House documentary marking President Tinubu’s second year in office.

Adeniyi noted that reforms such as the Nigeria Customs Trade Modernisation Project and the rollout of the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme have positioned the NCS in line with global customs practices. The AEO initiative, he explained, gives compliant importers access to green-lane clearance, significantly reducing cargo dwell time.

In the past nine months alone, Customs recovered over ₦64 billion from under-assessed or undervalued imports. The agency also recorded major breakthroughs in anti-smuggling operations, with syndicates operating across borders in Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto reportedly dismantled.

“We’re not just chasing smugglers in the bush anymore. With drones, port intelligence, and data analytics, we are intercepting illicit trade in real time,” the CGC said.

The Service is also aligning with the Federal Government’s plan to implement the National Single Window—a digital platform that integrates all government agencies involved in cargo clearance—to simplify and fast-track trade processes.

On the export front, the CGC disclosed that Nigeria Customs processed over ₦340 billion worth of solid minerals and agro-commodities through formal channels in 2024, a 38 percent increase over previous years.

“To boost exports, we’ve introduced fast-track lanes for agro-commodities and are collaborating with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to streamline procedures,” he added.

As part of efforts to transform the agency into an intelligence-led organisation, more than 1,800 officers have undergone training in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and risk profiling.

“Customs is becoming a modern, tech-driven institution focused on precision, speed, and accountability,” Adeniyi said. “President Tinubu gave us a clear mandate: block leakages, ease trade, and grow revenue without increasing hardship for Nigerians. That is exactly what we are doing.”