The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, on Tuesday presided over the 62nd regular meeting of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Board at the Service’s Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
The meeting served as a statutory platform to review the NCS’s operational performance, reform progress, and revenue contributions, particularly with regard to the first quarter of 2025. The Service posted a landmark revenue of ₦1.75 trillion during the quarter, surpassing its target by ₦106.5 billion and reflecting a significant 30 per cent year-on-year increase from Q1 2024.
Speaking after the session, Edun expressed cautious optimism, praising the improved figures while underscoring the need for sustained growth and enhanced institutional performance.
“As is expected and required, there is an improvement in the revenue of the Service, which is slightly above what was budgeted for the first quarter,” the Minister said. “However, much more is required, and more is expected of an institution that is pivotal in revenue.”
Describing the board session as “productive”, Edun reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to corporate governance, transparency, and accountability across public sector agencies.
“It was a good meeting. It’s important that we maintain corporate governance oversight and consultation through these regular statutory meetings,” he remarked. “At the end of the day, we will always ask that we do more to improve the revenue and the Service’s operations to aid the Nigerian economy and serve the good people of Nigeria.”
The meeting also focused on ongoing modernisation initiatives, including the expansion of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, the implementation of the Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) programme, and enhanced anti-smuggling operations. These initiatives are central to the NCS’s strategy to streamline trade processes, boost national security, and enhance Nigeria’s economic competitiveness.