Nigeria Customs Posts Record First Quarter Performance, Generates N1.75 Trillion in Revenue
…Intercepts N7.7 Billion Worth of Smuggled Goods, Launches Major Social Investment Drive
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has announced a historic revenue collection of over N1.75 trillion for the first quarter of 2025, surpassing its quarterly target by N106.5 billion.
He made this known during a comprehensive press briefing held at the NCS Corporate Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.
Adeniyi revealed that this performance marks a 29.96 percent increase over collections made in the corresponding period of 2024, describing the achievement as a testament to ongoing reforms championed under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the supervision of the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun.
“Every statistic we share today represents the hard work of our customs officers – stopping illegal goods at our borders, enabling lawful trade, and securing vital government revenue,” Adeniyi remarked.
The Service recorded a total revenue of N1,751,502,252,298.05 for Q1 2025 against a quarterly target of N1.645 trillion, translating to a 106.47% achievement. January alone contributed N647.88 billion, exceeding its target by 18.12% and representing a staggering 65.77% year-on-year growth.
February and March followed suit with N540.1 billion and N563.5 billion respectively, each surpassing their benchmarks and showing significant improvements over 2024 figures.
“These results confirm that our strategies to curb revenue leakages and support compliant trade are working effectively,” Adeniyi said.
The NCS recorded 298 seizures in the quarter with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N7.7 billion — a 78.41% increase from Q4 2024. Although this represented a 19.70% drop compared to Q1 2024, the reduction was attributed to growing stakeholder compliance and improved deterrence.
Rice topped the list of intercepted goods with 135,474 bags confiscated in 159 seizures, valued at over N939 million. Petroleum products and narcotics were also significant, with seizures totalling 65,819 litres and drugs worth N730 million respectively.
According to the CGC, the Service also disrupted three high-value wildlife trafficking attempts, seizing items worth N5.65 billion.
“From rice to narcotics and endangered species, our officers remain vigilant. We are adapting our enforcement to match the evolving nature of smuggling,” he affirmed.
The Customs Service processed 327,928 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) for imports in Q1 2025, up from 311,492 in Q1 2024. The mass of imports grew by 40.14% to over 4.9 billion kg, while the CIF value rose to N14.8 trillion — a 26.72% increase over the previous year.
Despite a 6.4% drop in export transactions, export volumes surged to 5.03 billion kg — a 348% rise compared to Q1 2024. The CIF value of exports held firm at ₦21.51 trillion.
“These shifts reflect a transition towards high-volume, bulk exports and improved processing efficiencies,” Adeniyi noted.
The first quarter witnessed significant advancements in NCS modernisation, including:
Expansion of the B’Odogwu Platform: The indigenous customs clearance solution was deployed to more formations, improving efficiency.
Launch of the AEO Programme: Recognised by the World Customs Organization, the programme rewards compliant businesses with faster clearance and reduced inspections.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Drive – ‘Customs Cares’: Officially launched in March, the programme is structured around six pillars — Education, Health, Environment, Food Security, Social Investment, and Creative Economy. Notable contributions included distributing 10,000 notebooks, 2,000 school bags, solar lighting, and conducting a medical outreach for 1,000 community members.
“This is not just charity. ‘Customs Cares’ is a structured, scalable intervention that supports national development,” said the Comptroller-General.
Food Security Measures: Duty exemptions on maize, rice, and sorghum contributed to a 12-18% decrease in food prices this year. The 2025 exemptions followed similar waivers granted in 2024, now showing cumulative effects.
Adeniyi noted that exchange rate volatility remained a major concern, with 62 rate changes recorded in Q1 alone, fluctuating between N1,477.72 and N1,569.53 to the dollar.
He also cited the temporary suspension of the Financial Customs Service Operation (FCSO) and the U.S. 14% reciprocal tariff on Nigerian exports as challenges that required ongoing dialogue and policy responses.
Looking ahead, Adeniyi outlined two key focus areas: accelerating the Service’s digital modernisation and improving service delivery.
This includes expanded deployment of the B’Odogwu platform, introduction of advanced risk management systems, and continuous human capital development.
“We envision a fully modernised Customs that balances trade facilitation with robust border security,” he concluded.
With N1.75 trillion in revenue collected, N7.7 billion in smuggled goods seized, and impactful social investment activities launched, the NCS has demonstrated operational excellence in Q1 2025, positioning itself as a critical pillar in Nigeria’s economic recovery and growth trajectory.
