Nigeria Customs Makes History with ₦7.28tn Revenue in 2025.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline, January 26, 2026.
In a landmark achievement that underscores the impact of sustained reforms and digital transformation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded one of its strongest financial performances in recent history, generating a total revenue of ₦7.281 trillion in 2025.
The historic milestone was announced on Monday in Abuja by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, during his address at the 2026 World Customs Day celebration. The figure represents a remarkable performance that exceeded the Service’s approved annual revenue target of ₦6.5 trillion by ₦697 billion—more than 10 per cent above expectations.
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According to Adeniyi, the 2025 outturn also reflects a significant year-on-year growth of about 19 per cent compared to the ₦6.1 trillion collected in 2024, reinforcing the agency’s position as one of the Federal Government’s most critical non-oil revenue drivers.
“Ladies and gentlemen, even as we protect society and reform procedures, we must also sustain the financial health of the state,” the Comptroller-General said. “I am pleased to report that in 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service collected a total of ₦7.281 trillion, exceeding the target of ₦6.584 trillion with a positive variance of ₦697 billion, representing a growth of over 10 per cent against the target.”
Beyond the impressive numbers, Adeniyi was quick to stress that the surge in revenue was not the product of aggressive or arbitrary enforcement, but the outcome of deliberate structural and operational reforms within the Service.
“When compared to 2024 collections, total revenue rose from ₦6.1 trillion to ₦7.28 trillion—an increase of approximately ₦1.18 trillion, or about 19 per cent year-on-year,” he explained. “We present these figures not as self-congratulation, but as evidence that reform is yielding tangible outcomes.”
He noted that longstanding concerns from importers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders about excessive enforcement had been carefully addressed, as the Service pursued a more balanced approach to revenue generation.
“The gains came not from burdening legitimate traders, but from improved compliance, better use of data, deployment of digital tools, and disciplined enforcement,” Adeniyi said. “More importantly, this performance was achieved while deepening collaboration with the private sector and upholding our trade facilitation commitments.”
The Customs boss also emphasized that the Service successfully balanced its revenue mandate with its broader responsibilities under regional and global trade agreements, ensuring that Nigeria remained competitive in international commerce while safeguarding national interests.
As a major non-oil revenue-generating agency, the Nigeria Customs Service plays a pivotal role in trade facilitation, revenue collection, border security, and the suppression of smuggling. The 2025 performance, observers say, signals a new chapter for the Service—one in which reform, technology, and partnership combine to deliver measurable results for the Nigerian economy.
With this historic achievement, the NCS has not only strengthened public finances but also set a new benchmark for accountability and efficiency in the public sector, raising expectations for even greater performance in the years ahead.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, JANUARY 26TH 2026)
