Nigeria Customs in 2025: A Post-Mortem

By Abdulsalam Mahmud

In 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) charted a path of transformation that placed equal emphasis on security, trade facilitation, and societal protection. From the ports of Lagos to the land borders of the north, the agency demonstrated that modern customs work is not simply about revenue collection but about safeguarding communities, supporting legitimate commerce, and upholding national development priorities.

The year’s achievements were celebrated on Monday, at the 2026 International Customs Day and the official launch of the Nigeria Time Release Study (TRS) in Abuja. Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, addressing an audience of stakeholders, described 2025 as a year where vigilance and commitment translated into tangible outcomes for both the economy and the citizenry.

While speaking, the CG outlined how Customs continues to redefine its role. “Protection is a daily responsibility of Customs,” he said, “while vigilance and commitment describe the mindset and discipline required to distinguish between allowing harm and intercepting it.” Customs, as Adeniyi explained, is often perceived narrowly as a revenue-focused institution.

Yet, the reality of its work extends to intercepting narcotics, counterfeit medicines, hazardous materials, illegal arms, and products that could harm consumers. These interventions often remain unseen by the public, yet their impact resonates widely, preserving lives and livelihoods. 2025 bore witness to this expanded mandate.

Across commands nationwide, NCS officers collaborated with sister agencies to dismantle criminal supply chains before they reached communities. Operations at Apapa port alone uncovered 16 containers of prohibited goods worth over ₦10 billion, including narcotics, expired pharmaceuticals, and concealed firearms. At the nation’s airports, officers intercepted over 1,600 exotic birds trafficked illegally, a move that safeguarded Nigeria’s biodiversity while reinforcing the country’s obligations under international treaties.

On land borders, seizures of illicit drugs, counterfeit medicines, and ammunition demonstrated that Customs vigilance extends to every corner of national trade. The CG noted that while these interventions often escape media attention, their societal impact is profound. Fewer drugs reach vulnerable youth, fewer weapons arm criminal networks, and fewer counterfeit medicines endanger public health. This, he said, is how Customs protects society: by preventing tragedy before it occurs.

In 2025 alone, the NCS recorded over 2,500 seizures nationwide, totaling more than ₦59 billion in prohibited and harmful goods. The scope of these seizures included narcotics, counterfeit pharmaceuticals, wildlife products, arms, petroleum products, vehicles, and substandard consumer goods. Each seizure represented not just enforcement, but a proactive shield for society.

Yet, vigilance is only one half of the modern Customs mandate. Adeniyi emphasized that facilitation must accompany enforcement. A secure border that stifles trade serves neither the economy nor the citizen. This duality—protection and facilitation—remains central to NCS strategy.

It is in this context that the Time Release Study (TRS) assumes significance.

Launched at the Tincan Island Port, the TRS provides the first comprehensive, evidence-based measurement of clearance performance in Nigeria’s recent history. The study reveals both efficiency and areas for improvement. Examination times for goods were relatively efficient, but idle periods caused by fragmented scheduling, manual documentation, and poor coordination were identified as bottlenecks.

Simply put, the challenge is not that goods cannot move quickly, but that procedural inefficiencies prevent them from doing so. The TRS reviewed over 600 declarations, combining manual timestamps and digital platform data to map clearance timelines precisely. For the first time, Customs has actionable evidence to guide reforms, ensuring that efficiency becomes measurable rather than anecdotal.

Adeniyi stressed that the TRS is not a one-off exercise but a tool for continuous reform. Trade facilitation is a shared responsibility, requiring coordination among terminal operators, shipping lines, partner government agencies, brokers, truckers, banks, and port authorities. Only through a synchronized ecosystem can Nigerian trade remain globally competitive.

The TRS complements other reforms introduced in 2025. Digital tools, risk management protocols, and post-clearance audits now underpin enforcement efforts. Compliance is encouraged, not coerced, and data-driven decisions have reduced arbitrary delays for legitimate traders. Financially, the results are impressive.

In 2025, Customs revenue totaled ₦7.281 trillion, surpassing the target of ₦6.584 trillion by ₦697 billion—a growth of over 10 percent. Year-on-year, revenue rose from ₦6.1 trillion to ₦7.28 trillion, a 19 percent increase, demonstrating that reforms are not just procedural, but profitable. These achievements were made possible without overburdening traders, Adeniyi clarified.

“The gains came not from arbitrary enforcement but from improved compliance, better data use, digital tools, and disciplined enforcement,” he said. The success of 2025 rests on three pillars: intelligence-driven enforcement, procedural reforms, and strengthened partnerships. Intelligence-led operations detect sophisticated illicit trade. Procedural reforms reduce clearance times and eliminate bottlenecks.

Partnerships ensure that Customs cannot act in isolation, but in concert with stakeholders across government, the private sector, and international bodies. Training remained central to these reforms. Officers across ports and borders underwent capacity-building programs focused on human rights compliance, evidence preservation, and lawful enforcement procedures. These measures improved professionalism and ensured that operational gains were sustainable.

Collaboration with civil society, human rights groups, and the Police Service Commission further reinforced transparency. Public Complaint Units were strengthened to track complaints from inception to resolution, building trust between Customs officers and the communities they serve. Operational efficiency was matched with welfare reforms. Officers received better medical care, improved duty rotation, and access to structured rest periods during demanding assignments.

These initiatives reduced fatigue and improved performance across the board. Environmental protection also featured prominently. NCS interventions prevented the importation of hazardous materials, counterfeit chemicals, and illegal wildlife, reflecting a broad mandate that protects society beyond borders.

Adeniyi highlighted specific enforcement wins in 2025: narcotics seizures that saved lives, counterfeit medicine interdictions that prevented health crises, and arms interceptions that safeguarded communities from violence.

Each success illustrates the tangible impact of Customs vigilance.

Yet, challenges remain. Procedural inefficiencies, fragmented port operations, and delayed coordination with partner agencies can still impede trade. The TRS, Adeniyi stressed, provides the blueprint for targeted solutions to these issues. In addition, Customs is embracing technology to reduce human error and improve monitoring.

Non-intrusive inspection devices, data analytics, and interoperable digital platforms have become central to enforcement and facilitation alike.

The CG emphasized that protection and facilitation are mutually reinforcing. A secure, well-managed border fosters trust, encourages trade, and promotes national prosperity. Conversely, inefficient processes undermine both security and economic potential.

Partnerships extend to international organizations as well. The World Customs Organization, the UK government, and other development partners continue to provide technical and capacity support, ensuring that NCS reforms align with global best practices. Public engagement remains a priority. Citizens, traders, and industry stakeholders are now more aware of Customs’ expanded mandate.

Outreach programs, workshops, and media sensitization initiatives have helped demystify the work of the Service. Looking ahead, 2026 promises to build on these foundations. TRS results will guide continuous process improvements. Investments in technology and training will expand. Collaborative frameworks with partner agencies and private sector actors will deepen.

Revenue growth will continue to be monitored alongside compliance metrics. Every Naira collected will reflect both efficiency and fairness, reinforcing the credibility of the Service. Operational transparency, Adeniyi noted, is not optional. It is essential to sustaining trust between Customs and the public, ensuring that enforcement actions are seen as legitimate and facilitative.

By the end of 2025, the Nigeria Customs had proven that it can protect society while enabling prosperity. Each seizure, each clearance improvement, and each partnership reflects a service evolving to meet the challenges of modern trade and national security. The year also illustrated the interconnection of security and economic growth.

By intercepting harmful goods, Customs indirectly prevented health crises, crime escalation, and environmental degradation—proving that vigilance has real-world consequences. Customs officers themselves have become more professional, accountable, and better equipped, combining discipline with welfare reforms. This balance strengthens both internal operations and public perception.

In every operational success, there is also a lesson for the future: protection and facilitation must go hand in hand. Efficiency without security is dangerous; enforcement without transparency is unsustainable. The TRS marks a turning point—a shift from opinion-driven to evidence-driven reform. Nigeria now has the tools to make informed decisions that benefit traders, communities, and the economy alike.

In sum, 2025 was a year of consolidation, innovation, and accountability for the Nigeria Customs. And more importantly, it was the year it’s officers, leaders, and partners collectively demonstrated that Customs can protect society while driving national prosperity.

Mahmud, Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, wrote in via: [email protected].