By Ayomide Otitoju
The Honourable Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ongoing reforms in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), describing the Service as a critical institution at the intersection of revenue mobilisation, national security and trade facilitation.
Uzoka-Anite spoke on Monday, January 26, 2026, at the 2026 International Customs Day celebration held at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Abuja, where she commended officers and men of the Service for sustaining professionalism amid rising public and economic expectations.
The Minister noted that the Federal Government recognises the NCS as a strategic partner in the implementation of fiscal, monetary and structural reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that efficient border management remains central to economic stability and growth.
According to her, the Service has demonstrated that revenue assurance, trade facilitation and border security can be pursued concurrently when institutions are guided by integrity, data-driven decision-making and strong leadership. She assured stakeholders that the Ministry of Finance would continue to provide policy direction and institutional support to strengthen Customs capacity, enhance transparency and modernise operations across ports and border formations nationwide.
In his remarks, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the NCS generated ₦7.281 trillion in revenue in 2025, surpassing its approved annual target of ₦6.584 trillion.
He said the performance reflected significant year-on-year growth driven by disciplined enforcement, improved compliance, process automation and sustained engagement with the trading community.
Beyond revenue generation, Adeniyi said the Service intensified intelligence-led operations to protect society, resulting in thousands of seizures of prohibited and harmful goods, including narcotics, illicit pharmaceuticals, arms, ammunition, wildlife products and substandard consumer items.
He explained that the interventions were aimed at safeguarding public health, protecting the environment and strengthening national security, while ensuring that legitimate trade was not disrupted. The CGC reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to balancing trade facilitation with effective control to ensure seamless lawful trade without compromising security or revenue.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs, Honourable Leke Abejide, called for greater recognition of the NCS within Nigeria’s security architecture. He pledged continued legislative support for reforms that enhance the welfare, capacity and operational efficiency of the Service.
Similarly, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, commended the NCS for its role in facilitating trade and securing the nation’s borders, describing it as a key partner in Nigeria’s economic transformation drive.
Oduwole noted that efficient Customs operations are vital to improving Nigeria’s competitiveness, attracting investment and supporting industrial growth, particularly as the government intensifies efforts to expand non-oil revenue. She also stressed the need for deeper inter-agency collaboration, noting that trade facilitation and national security must advance together to deliver sustainable economic outcomes.
