The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recorded a revenue of ₦1.3 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, more than double the ₦600 billion collected during the same period in 2023.

Bashir Adeniyi, the comptroller-general of customs, disclosed this in an upcoming State House documentary to mark President Bola Tinubu’s second anniversary.

He attributed the revenue growth to transformative reforms under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Mr Adeniyi said the revenue surge emanated from improved technological deployment, enhanced port operations, and tightened enforcement on revenue leakages.

The customs boss also cited a renewed culture of accountability across customs commands, Bayo Onanuga, the president’s spokesman, said in a statement.

“We collected ₦1.3 trillion in Q1 2025 alone. This was not due to higher import volumes.

“Imports had dropped due to foreign exchange constraints. What has changed are efficiency, transparency, and enforcement,” the comptroller-general said.

He stated that the service was preparing to launch the E-Customs Modernisation Project. He added that the $3.2 billion initiative would digitise cargo processing, surveillance, and payment systems across Nigeria’s ports and borders.

“The E-customs project is central to our future. Once fully deployed, we project it will add 250 billion dollars in cumulative revenue over 20 years,” the customs boss said.

According to Mr Adeniyi, the newly launched Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme is onboarding pre-vetted importers, allowing compliant businesses faster processing and reducing port congestion.

The customs CG said the service had intensified its anti-smuggling operations and closed long-standing revenue leakages.

He said over ₦64 billion was recovered from previously under-assessed or undervalued imports in the last nine months, and major smuggling rings at the Seme, Idiroko, Katsina, and Sokoto borders had been dismantled.

Mr Adeniyi said the new joint border patrol task forces established in coordination with the Nigerian Army, SSS and Police had also yielded positive results.

“We’re no longer just chasing smugglers in the bush. We’re using data, surveillance drones, and port intelligence to act in real-time,” Mr Adeniyi said.

To ease trade and reduce business costs, he said NCS was fast-tracking the roll-out of the National Single Window, a digital portal that would integrate all government agencies involved in cargo clearance.

“Right now, you deal with up to 15 agencies manually. With the single window, you’ll do it all online, in one place. This will slash clearance time and costs,” the C-G explained.

He added that clearance timelines at Apapa and Tin Can Ports had already dropped from 21 days to seven to 10 days for compliant importers.

The comptroller-general said the agency had introduced fast-track lanes for agro-exports.

He added that they were working with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) to streamline outbound cargo processes in line with the government’s push for non-oil exports.

“We’re promoting exports aggressively. Last year, Nigeria exported over ₦340 billion worth of solid minerals and agro commodities through formal channels, up by 38 per cent. We’re targeting even more in 2025,” he said.

Mr Adeniyi said customs was also undergoing internal transformation, with over 1,800 officers trained in advanced data analytics, risk profiling and artificial intelligence.

“The president gave us a clear directive: block leakages, facilitate trade, and raise revenue without burdening Nigerians. That is what we are doing. And the results are beginning to speak for themselves,” Mr Adeniyi said.

(NAN)