The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it collected ₦1.75 trillion in revenue in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing its target by ₦106.5 billion and recording a 29.96 per cent increase compared to Q1 2024.
The announcement was made in a statement posted on the their official X account on Thursday, April 24.
“These results substantiate our effective measures to curb revenue losses while streamlining compliant trade,” Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said.
“The 29.96 per cent annual increase and steady monthly collections confirm our strategy is working.”
Adeniyi noted that January saw the highest monthly revenue at ₦647.88 billion, an 18.12 per cent increase over the target and a 65.77 per cent rise compared to January 2024. February and March also exceeded their targets, continuing the positive trend.
In enforcement operations, the Service made 298 seizures worth ₦7.7 billion in Duty Paid Value (DPV). Items confiscated included 135,474 bags of rice, 65,819 litres of petroleum products, ₦730 million worth of narcotics, and wildlife products valued at ₦5.6 billion.
“From rice to wildlife, these seizures demonstrate our targeted approach,” Adeniyi said.
“We remain committed to refining our enforcement strategies through intelligence-led operations, technological advancement, and strengthened inter-agency cooperation.”
The NCS processed 327,928 import declarations in Q1, an increase of 5.28 per cent over the same period last year.
These declarations covered goods weighing nearly five billion kilograms with a CIF value of ₦14.8 trillion. While the number of export declarations declined, export volumes surged by 348 per cent.
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“This data clearly suggests Nigeria’s accelerating move towards bulk commodity exports,” Adeniyi stated, “while maintaining consistent total export value—reflecting both changing trade patterns and improved processing efficiency.”
He also highlighted key milestones in the NCS modernisation drive, including the continued rollout of the B’Odogwu customs clearance platform and the launch of the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) Programme, designed to speed up processing for compliant traders.
As part of its community development effort, the NCS introduced its “Customs Cares” initiative, aimed at supporting education, healthcare, and social welfare across Nigeria.
“Customs Cares represents a structured, scalable approach to community development, transforming corporate responsibility into tangible improvements,” Adeniyi said.
On food security, the CGC explained the Service’s role in implementing duty waivers on essential food staples to help lower prices.
“This combination of current and past exemptions helps explain the steady improvement in food affordability. The benefits of duty relief emerge gradually but accumulate to make food more affordable,” he said.
However, challenges remain. Adeniyi pointed to exchange rate volatility, with 62 recorded changes in Q1, and ongoing smuggling activities.
“We continue to adapt our strategies to combat increasingly sophisticated smuggling networks,” he stated.
Looking ahead, the CGC said the Service will stay focused on reform, innovation, and delivering results.
“We’re not just collecting figures, we’re shaping the future of trade and security in Nigeria,” Adeniyi concluded. “The numbers show we’re delivering.”