Customs Breaks Records with N6.1 Trillion Revenue as FG Extends CG’s Tenure

The Federal Government has extended the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, by 12 months, following what has been described as an unprecedented fiscal performance and far-reaching structural reforms within the service.

The extension, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, comes on the heels of a record-breaking N6.1 trillion revenue generation by the NCS in 2024. This figure represents a 90.4% year-on-year increase and surpasses the annual revenue target by 20.2%, a feat regarded as a milestone in Nigeria’s non-oil revenue strategy.

The Customs Service also facilitated N136 trillion in exports and managed imports worth N60.29 trillion during the year, reflecting a significant shift toward economic diversification and reducing over-dependence on oil revenues.

According to top government officials, the extension is intended to allow the Customs boss to consolidate ongoing reforms including the full implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the National Single Window Project, and Nigeria’s obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Highlights of the Comptroller-General’s tenure so far include several major arms and illicit drug seizures across the country’s ports, the decongestion of over 1,700 containers and nearly 1,000 vehicles from seaports, and the deployment of non-intrusive cargo scanners nationwide to improve inspection processes.

Key initiatives also include the Unified Customs Management System, the introduction of the electronic currency declaration form, and international collaborations such as customs assistance agreements with China, India, Belarus, and the United States.

In line with global best practices, the Service launched the Advanced Ruling System and the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) programme, rewarding compliant businesses with expedited cargo clearance and enhanced supply chain security.

The Service has also revitalized the export terminal at Lilypond Command in Lagos, increasing exports processed from 317 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) to 7,464 SGDs in 2023. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, 3,162 SGDs—representing 29.3% of total transactions—were processed through the dedicated terminal.

In alignment with national development goals, the NCS launched a Corporate Social Responsibility strategy to provide essential infrastructure to host communities and distributed palliatives such as food items to vulnerable populations.

Furthermore, recent data shows the NCS moved from 34th position to first place in the 2024 Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) ranking, having improved compliance, service delivery, and transparency metrics.

The Customs Service also recorded over N4.1 billion worth of drug seizures in 2024, further bolstering its role in national security and border protection.

Critics, however, argue that the performance of the Customs Service, while commendable, constitutes expected statutory duties, and question whether such achievements warrant a tenure extension.

Nonetheless, government insiders maintain that the Service’s contribution to fiscal stability and economic diversification justifies the decision, underscoring productivity and strategic reforms as the benchmarks for performance-based leadership extensions.