The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) joined the global Customs community to celebrate International Customs Day 2025. Traditionally observed worldwide on January 26th, this occasion serves as an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past year, reaffirm our commitments, and adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of Customs administration. This year’s celebration was held on January 27th, underscoring its importance despite coinciding with a weekend.
The 2025 theme set by the World Customs Organization (WCO), “Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity,” encapsulates the core mission of the NCS. These responsibilities—facilitating legitimate trade, securing national borders, and fostering economic growth—are integral to our operations. The NCS’s record-breaking revenue of ₦6.1 trillion, along with impactful security interventions, stands as a testament to its dedication to these mandates.
The Service has made remarkable progress in modernizing its operations to enhance efficiency. Key accomplishments include the successful implementation of the Advanced Ruling System, which offers binding decisions on classification and valuation before shipment arrival, significantly reducing clearance delays and disputes. Additionally, the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program has achieved an average cargo release time of 43 hours for certified companies—a 66.9% reduction in clearance time.
To further streamline trade processes, the NCS introduced its indigenous customs clearance platform, ‘B’Odogwu,’ late last year. Within its pilot phase, the platform has already facilitated transactions generating billions in revenue, demonstrating the Service’s commitment to providing a seamless trading experience for Nigerians. These advancements exemplify the NCS’s resolve to drive efficiency, enhance security, and contribute to national prosperity.
Globally, the interplay between illicit trade, technological advancements, and transnational criminal networks is becoming increasingly complex. To address these challenges, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), like other Customs administrations, has focused on several critical risk areas identified by the World Customs Organization (WCO), including:
a. Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing: The Service remains vigilant against bulk cash smuggling, trade-based money laundering, and the illicit trafficking of high-value commodities.
b. Cultural Heritage Protection: Enforcement efforts aim to prevent the illicit trafficking of cultural objects and artifacts, particularly in response to growing global concerns about smuggling from conflict zones.
c. Drug Trafficking: The NCS has intensified its response to evolving narcotics threats, with a focus on addressing the shift from traditional narcotics to pharmaceutical and synthetic drug abuse. In 2024, these efforts led to 105 seizures of narcotics and illicit drugs.
d. Environmental Protection: Significant progress has been made in combating wildlife trafficking, illegal timber trade, and hazardous waste smuggling. In 2024 alone, 76 seizures of animal and wildlife products valued at ₦5.93 billion were recorded.
To enhance security further, the NCS is strengthening its technological infrastructure through:
a. The integration of geo-spatial technology and advanced detection methods.
b. The deployment of sophisticated scanning systems at key ports.
c. Improved intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities.
d. The implementation of technology-driven risk assessment protocols.
In terms of fiscal performance, the Service achieved remarkable success in 2024, collecting ₦6.1 trillion in revenue—a 20.2% surplus over its target and an impressive 90.4% year-over-year increase. Trade facilitation also saw substantial growth, with imports valued at ₦60.29 trillion and exports totaling ₦136.65 trillion. Furthermore, the NCS provided ₦1.68 trillion in strategic concessions to stimulate economic growth and support industrial development across various sectors.
These accomplishments highlight the NCS’s dual commitment to revenue generation and trade facilitation, underscoring its vital role in advancing national prosperity.
Looking ahead, and guided by this year’s theme, “Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity,” our strategic vision aligns seamlessly with the policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and global best practices in customs. Our focus remains on transformative initiatives aimed at revolutionizing trade facilitation and enforcement. These include the nationwide deployment of trade modernization programs, the full implementation of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, the adoption of advanced technology-driven risk management systems, and the establishment of the Nigeria Customs Service University for Trade and Technology. These initiatives will serve as key performance indicators as we assess our achievements at year’s end.
Moving forward, the unwavering support of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Olawale Edun, along with the dedication of our officers, personnel, stakeholders, and international partners, will remain instrumental in achieving and surpassing our performance goals. As we celebrate International Customs Day, we reaffirm our commitment to excellence in customs administration and our shared mission to create a more secure and prosperous Nigeria through efficient and effective service delivery.