FG Supports Customs Reforms, Lauds Efforts As Service Generates 7.2trn to Surpass Annual Target

The Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, on Monday, 26 January 2026, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), describing the Service as a critical institution at the intersection of revenue mobilisation, national security and trade facilitation.

The Minister spoke at the Ladi Kwali Hall in Abuja during the 2026 International Customs Day celebration, where she commended officers and men of the Service for sustaining professionalism under increasing public and economic expectations.

In her address, Uzoka-Anite said “Federal Government recognises Customs as a strategic partner in the implementation of fiscal, monetary and structural reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, noting that efficient border management remains central to economic stability and growth.

According to her, “Nigeria Customs Service has demonstrated that revenue assurance, trade facilitation and border security can be pursued simultaneously when institutions are guided by integrity, data-driven decision-making and strong leadership”, she said.

She assured stakeholders that the Federal Ministry of Finance would continue to provide policy direction and institutional support to strengthen Customs capacity, improve transparency and modernise operations across the country’s ports and border formations.

In his remarks, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the NCS generated a total revenue of N7.281 trillion in 2025, exceeding its approved annual target of N6.584 trillion.

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According to the CGC, “this performance represents a significant year-on-year growth and reflects the impact of disciplined enforcement, improved compliance, process automation and sustained engagement with the trading community”, he added.

He noted that, beyond revenue, the Service intensified efforts to protect society through intelligence-led operations, leading to thousands of seizures of prohibited and harmful goods, including narcotics, illicit pharmaceuticals, arms, ammunition, wildlife products, and substandard consumer items.

CGC Adeniyi pointed out that, “these interventions were aimed at safeguarding public health, protecting the environment and strengthening national security, while ensuring that legitimate trade was not hindered.”

“The NCS remains committed to striking the right balance between facilitation and control, ensuring that lawful trade flows seamlessly without compromising security or revenue.” CGC Adeniyi said.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs, Honourable Leke Abejide, stressed the need for greater recognition of the NCS within the country’s security architecture.

The lawmaker pledged continued legislative backing for reforms that strengthen the Service, saying, “Anything that improves the welfare, capacity and operational efficiency of the Nigeria Customs Service has my full support.”

In her remarks, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, commended the NCS for its role in facilitating trade and securing Nigeria’s borders, describing the Service as a key partner in the country’s economic transformation drive.

She noted that “efficient Customs operations are essential to improving Nigeria’s competitiveness, attracting investment and supporting industrial growth, particularly at a time when the government is focused on expanding non-oil revenue”, she added.

Oduwole aligned with calls for deeper inter-agency collaboration, stressing that trade facilitation and national security must move in tandem to deliver meaningful economic outcomes.