Nigeria Customs Surpasses Revenue Targets in Mid-Year Performance Report
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has released its mid-year performance report for 2024, showcasing significant achievements in revenue collection, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling operations.
The NCS said the report, signed by Abdullahi Miwada, Chief Superintendent of Customs and National Public Relations Officer For the Comptroller-General of Customs, aligns with the policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and underscores the commitment of the NCS under the leadership of Comptroller-General (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to delivering a transparent and accessible system.
The NCS reported a remarkable performance in the first half of 2024, surpassing its revenue target of N2.54 trillion by collecting N2.74 trillion, an 8% increase over the target and a 127% increase compared to the previous year’s revenue.
In the second quarter alone, the NCS collected N1.395 trillion, exceeding the quarterly target by 10% and achieving a 131% increase over Q2 2023.
Key initiatives contributing to this success include the e-auction platform, which generated over N1.34 billion, and a 90-day duty payment window for uncustomed vehicles, which added N4.37 billion to the revenue. These measures have significantly enhanced transparency, compliance, and efficiency in customs processes.
In addition to revenue collection, the NCS intensified its anti-smuggling operations, resulting in notable achievements.
From January to June 2024, the NCS made 2,442 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of NGN 25.52 billion, a 203% increase over the first half of 2023.
The second quarter saw 1,334 seizures with a DPV of NGN 17.56 billion, representing a 121% increase over the first quarter of 2024.
Seized items included wildlife products, vehicles, arms and ammunition, foreign rice, pharmaceuticals, and narcotics, with 32 suspects in custody.
Despite a 39% reduction in the processing of Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) compared to the same period in 2023, the NCS has implemented several key initiatives to simplify and expedite customs processes.
These include reinforcing NCS automation procedures, capacity-building programs for officers, and public-private partnerships to enhance customs clearance efficiency, which are essential for enhancing Nigeria’s trade competitiveness and supporting economic growth.
The NCS faced several challenges in the first half of 2024, including significant fluctuations in the exchange rate, lower transaction volumes, low compliance levels among importers and exporters, and periodic system downtimes.
To address these issues and enhance revenue collection, the NCS implemented strategies such as real-time system auditing, post-clearance audits, document verification for the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), ensuring compliance with import guidelines, and piloting the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) scheme.
Furthermore, the NCS noted that it introduced the Advance Ruling System (ARS), providing legally binding decisions on classification, valuation, and rules of origin before the importation or exportation of goods.
Other measures included establishing a robust framework for dispute resolution, launching Operation Whirlwind, reshuffling strategic-level officers, and engaging with stakeholders.
CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi commended all officers and men of the NCS for their diligence and commitment.
He also acknowledged the significant roles played by stakeholders in achieving these impressive results and reaffirmed the NCS’s dedication to supporting government policies for a better Nigeria.
