The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) collected ₦1.75 trillion as revenue for the first quarter of 2025, its comptroller-general, Adewale Adeniyi, said on Tuesday in Abuja.

“I am proud to announce that we have exceeded this year’s target by ₦106.5 billion, achieving 106.47 per cent of our quarterly projection,” Mr Adeniyi said at a press briefing.

” This outstanding performance represents a substantial 29.96 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024, where we collected ₦1.35 trillion.”

Mr Adeniyi said customs exceeded its first quarter benchmark of N1.65 trillion by 106.47 per cent.

“January’s collection of ₦647.88 billion not only surpassed its monthly target of ₦548.33 billion by 18.12 per cent but also showed a remarkable 65.77 per cent year-on-year growth.

“February’s ₦540.11 billion exceeded its target by 1.3 per cent while achieving 19.97 per cent growth over 2024 figures,” he said.

Mr Adeniyi said March maintained this positive trend with ₦563.52 billion, delivering 2.7 per cent above target and an 11.22 per cent improvement over March 2024.

He said the service recorded 298 seizures, with a total duty paid value (DPV) of ₦7.7 billion, representing an increase of 78.41 per cent compared to the ₦4.32 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Mr Adeniyi said the achievement indicated improved operational effectiveness.

The customs boss added that compared to the ₦9.59 billion recorded in the first quarter of 2024, the service observed a 19.70 per cent reduction in DPV.

According to him, the reduction is due to improved compliance, facilitated by sustained stakeholders’ engagements and the deterrent effect of the service’s enforcement activities.

“Rice remained the most prevalent seized commodity, with 159 cases involving 135,474 bags valued at ₦939.31 million; petroleum products followed with 61 seizures totalling 65,819 litres (₦43.34million DPV).

”Of particular note were 22 narcotics interceptions valued at ₦730.75 million, reflecting our intensified focus on combating drug trafficking.

“The service also recorded three high-value wildlife product seizures with a remarkable ₦5.65 billion DPV,” Mr Adeniyi said.

Mr Adeniyi stated that this underscored the lucrative nature of the illegal trade and the NCS’s commitment to environmental protection under the extant international conventions.

The comptroller-general said other notable seizures included 13 cases of textile fabrics valued at ₦134.22 million DPV), and five cases of retreaded tyres.

He disclosed that they were all valued at ₦104.60 million DPV, with one pharmaceutical case valued at ₦17.19 million DPV.

According to him, these comprehensive results demonstrate the service’s vigilance across all the categories of prohibited and restricted goods.

Mr Adeniyi said that in the first quarter, the NCS processed 327,928 single goods declarations for imports.

It also handled goods with a total mass of 4.91 billion kilogrammes and a Cost, Insurance, and Freight value of ₦14.81 trillion.

(NAN)