By Ayomide Otitoju
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its strong revenue performance, technology investments and ongoing trade facilitation reforms.
Oyedele gave the commendation on September 2, 2026, during his inaugural board meeting and facility tour at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.
He praised the leadership and personnel of the Service for the progress made in modernising its operations and increasing revenue generation.
According to the minister, the NCS generated N4.03 trillion in the first half of 2026 and an additional N1.38 trillion in July and August, putting it on course to meet its N11 trillion revenue target for the year.
He attributed the performance to increased automation, intelligence-led reforms and improved cargo processing strategies under the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
Oyedele also expressed confidence in the Service’s modern intelligence tools and technological infrastructure, saying they could help position Nigeria as a leading player in regional and global trade.
“Results are precisely what should propel us to do more,” the minister said, stressing that the Customs’ progress provided a strong foundation for improving port efficiency, end-to-end transparency, cargo clearance timelines and revenue integrity.
“Nigeria must lead through performance, not rhetoric,” he added.
Oyedele reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s support for the NCS and assured the Service of continued government backing through investments in modern technology, operational tools and policy support.
He said the measures were aimed at strengthening the Customs Service’s role as a leading trade facilitator in Africa.
