KEY POINTS

• The Nigeria Customs Service made N7.28 trillion in 2025.
• More than N697 billion was collected above the yearly goal.
• The Nigeria Customs Service made more money because of digital improvements and compliance.

Nigeria’s Customs Service said it generated a record N7.281 trillion in revenue in 2025, surpassing its annual target and underscoring the impact of reforms aimed at boosting non-oil income without constraining legitimate trade.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed the figures on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 World Customs Day celebration. The outturn exceeded the service’s approved revenue target of N6.5 trillion by N697 billion, representing a positive variance of more than 10 percent.

Adeniyi said the result marked one of the strongest performances in the agency’s history, reflecting structural and operational improvements rather than tougher enforcement alone. Revenue rose by about 19 percent from the N6.1 trillion collected in 2024, translating to an increase of roughly N1.18 trillion year on year.

Nigeria Customs Service revenue exceeds expectations

According to Adeniyi, the Nigeria Customs Service revenue performance demonstrated that ongoing reforms were producing measurable outcomes. He stressed that the figures were not presented as self-congratulation, but as proof that changes in systems and processes were delivering results.

“Even as we protect society and reform procedures, we must sustain the financial health of the state,” Adeniyi said. He added that the service collected N7.281 trillion in 2025, beating its target by a wide margin while maintaining its broader mandate.

He attributed the stronger performance to improved compliance, better use of data, expanded deployment of digital tools and more disciplined enforcement. These measures, he said, reduced leakages and enhanced efficiency across ports and border commands.

Nigeria Customs Service revenue reflects reform gains

Adeniyi emphasized that the revenue growth did not come at the expense of legitimate trade, a long standing concern among importers and manufacturers. Instead, he said the service focused on facilitation and collaboration with the private sector.

“The gains came not from arbitrary enforcement or burdening traders, but from improved compliance and deeper stakeholder engagement,” he said, noting that customs continued to align its operations with regional and global trade agreements.

The Nigeria Customs Service remains one of the federal government’s largest non-oil revenue agencies, with responsibilities spanning revenue collection, trade facilitation, border security and the suppression of smuggling. Officials say sustaining recent gains will depend on consolidating reforms, expanding technology-driven oversight and maintaining trust with the trading community as import volumes and regional trade flows evolve.