Nigeria Customs Service Marks International Customs Day 2025, Showcases Achievements, Future Goals

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) celebrated International Customs Day 2025 at its corporate headquarters in Abuja, highlighting the service’s significant contributions to national development and security.
The event, which took place today due to the weekend observance, brought together distinguished guests and key stakeholders from within the country and around the world.

The theme for this year’s observance, as announced by the World Customs Organization (WCO), is “Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity.” This theme aligns closely with the core objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service, which include facilitating legitimate trade, securing borders, and driving economic growth.

During his address, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, reflected on the Service’s remarkable achievements in 2024, which included a historic ₦6.1 trillion in revenue collection, surpassing its targets by over 20%.

Adeniyi underscored the pivotal role of the NCS in Nigeria’s economic development, as it managed trade worth ₦60.29 trillion in imports and ₦136.65 trillion in exports, while also granting ₦1.68 trillion in concessions aimed at spurring industrial growth.

The NCS has also made impressive strides in enhancing operational efficiency through technological innovations.

Key initiatives such as the introduction of the Advanced Ruling System, which reduces clearance delays, and the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, which has significantly sped up cargo clearance times, were highlighted as major successes.

Adeniyi also pointed to the indigenous development of the NCS clearance platform, ‘B’Odogwu’, which has processed billions in revenue during its pilot phase.

Security remains a critical focus for the NCS. Adeniyi discussed the agency’s efforts in tackling illicit trade, including narcotics trafficking, money laundering, and the illegal wildlife trade.

Notably, the NCS made 105 narcotics seizures in 2024 and intercepted wildlife products worth ₦5.93 billion.

Looking ahead, Adeniyi outlined the NCS’s commitment to further modernization, including the nationwide deployment of trade modernization initiatives, expanded AEO programs, and the establishment of the Nigeria Customs Service University for Trade and Technology. These developments aim to revolutionize trade facilitation and enforcement practices, aligning with the administration’s broader vision for economic transformation.

Adeniyi also expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other key government officials, emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration to achieve the NCS’s ambitious goals for the coming year.

As Nigeria continues to navigate an evolving global trade landscape, the NCS remains steadfast in its mission to deliver efficient, secure, and prosperous customs administration for the benefit of the nation.