The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a remarkable revenue haul of N1.75 trillion in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, surpassing its projected target of N1.645 trillion by N106.5 billion. The achievement represents a 29.96% increase compared to the N1.35 trillion collected during the same period in 2024.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the figures at a press briefing held on Monday, April 22, in Abuja. According to him, this performance is a testament to ongoing reform efforts and stricter enforcement measures under the current leadership.
“I’m proud to announce we’ve exceeded our Q1 target, achieving 106.47% of our quarterly projection. This reflects a strong trajectory for the year,” said Adeniyi.
January 2025: N647.88 billion (18.12% above monthly target, 65.77% increase from Jan 2024)
February 2025: N540.11 billion
March 2025: N563.52 billion
Each month surpassed its respective revenue target.
Adeniyi credited the robust performance to:
Enhanced anti-leakage initiatives
Improved compliance from importers
Stronger inter-agency collaboration
Introduction of new platforms like the B’Odogwu Customs digital interface
The Authorized Economic Operators programme promoting trade transparency
He also noted that while Q1 2025 saw 298 anti-smuggling seizures worth N7.7 billion in duty-paid value—a 78.41% increase from Q4 2024—it was 19.7% lower than Q1 2024, indicating better trader compliance rather than weaker enforcement.
The NCS processed 327,928 import declarations involving goods worth N14.8 trillion and weighing nearly 5 billion kilograms, a sharp rise from Q1 2024 figures.
Additionally, the Customs Service has aligned with the Federal Government’s food security agenda, implementing targeted duty waivers on essentials such as rice, maize, and sorghum. These exemptions contributed to food price drops of 12–18% within the quarter.
Adeniyi also highlighted the launch of “Customs Cares,” a new corporate social responsibility initiative focused on improving public trust and stakeholder engagement.
The Nigeria Customs Service says it is poised to build on its strong start as it works towards its N6.58 trillion annual revenue target, pledging continued reforms, increased transparency, and improved service delivery across the board.