NCS marks Int’l Customs Day, lists record-breaking achievements, ambitious future plans

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NCS marks Int'l Customs Day, lists record-breaking achievements, ambitious future plans

NCS marks Int’l Customs Day, lists record-breaking achievements, ambitious future plans

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) celebrated International Customs Day 2025, underscoring its commitment to efficiency, security, and prosperity.

With impressive achievements from 2024, including record revenue collection and significant strides in security, the NCS has set its sights on even greater goals in 2025, aiming to further streamline operations and enhance national development.

On January 26, 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) joined customs agencies worldwide to celebrate International Customs Day, a day dedicated to highlighting the vital role of customs in promoting efficiency, security, and prosperity.

This year’s theme, “Customs delivering on its commitment to efficiency, security, and prosperity,” resonated deeply as the NCS reflected on its achievements over the past year while outlining ambitious plans for the future.

Held at the NCS Corporate Headquarters in Abuja, the event provided an opportunity for introspection, allowing the Service to showcase its remarkable accomplishments while reaffirming its commitment to its core mission.

Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, delivered a powerful address, emphasizing the NCS’s focus on three key pillars: facilitating legitimate trade, securing borders, and fostering economic growth. These pillars, according to Adeniyi, are foundational to the NCS’s operations and are instrumental in driving the country’s economic development while safeguarding its borders.

Adeniyi highlighted the NCS’s impressive financial achievements, noting that the Service had surpassed its 2024 revenue target by 20.2%, collecting a record ₦6.1 trillion. This achievement marked a staggering 90.4% year-over-year increase in revenue.

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The NCS also facilitated trade worth ₦60.29 trillion in imports and ₦136.65 trillion in exports, with strategic concessions totaling ₦1.68 trillion aimed at stimulating industrial growth across various sectors.

In his address, Adeniyi also celebrated significant operational milestones. The NCS’s Advanced Ruling System, which provides binding decisions on classification and valuation before shipments arrive, has led to reduced clearance delays and fewer disputes.

Furthermore, the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, which facilitates faster cargo clearance for certified companies, has seen an impressive 66.9% reduction in clearance times, with certified companies now enjoying an average release time of just 43 hours.

The CGC also spotlighted the launch of the ‘B’Odogwu’ customs clearance platform in the fourth quarter of 2024.

This innovative system, designed and developed indigenously, has already demonstrated its potential, processing billions of naira in revenue during its pilot phase.

On the security front, Adeniyi stressed the evolving complexities of transnational crime, technological advancements, and illicit trade.

The NCS, he noted, remains vigilant in addressing critical security threats, including anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing, and the illicit trafficking of high-value commodities.

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The NCS also intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking, environmental crimes, and the illicit trade of cultural artifacts.

Notable seizures in 2024 included 105 narcotics busts and the confiscation of ₦5.93 billion worth of animal and wildlife products.

To enhance security, the NCS has integrated advanced technologies into its operations, including geo-spatial systems, scanning equipment, and risk assessment tools. These innovations help identify high-risk shipments and ensure timely responses to potential threats.

Looking ahead, the CGC outlined the NCS’s ambitious plans for 2025. Key initiatives include nationwide trade modernization projects to streamline customs processes, expanding the AEO program to further improve trade facilitation and security, and the establishment of a Nigeria Customs Service University to develop the next generation of customs officers and trade experts.

Adeniyi also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Honourable Minister of Finance, and international partners for their continued support, emphasizing that collaboration is essential to the NCS’s success.

Concluding his speech, Adeniyi reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to excellence, stressing the Service’s pivotal role in national development.

He reiterated the NCS’s dedication to delivering on its mandate and adapting to the evolving demands of global trade and security, ensuring a prosperous future for Nigeria.

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