Customs revenue surges 74%, hits N4.49tr in a year

.Impounds animal, wildlife products worth N566m

Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has declared that the service generated N4.49 trillion in one year under him, surpassing the 2023 revenue target by 74 per cent.
 
He disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday, at a briefing to commemorate his first anniversary in office. He attributed the remarkable milestone in revenue generation to improved enforcement, automation and stakeholder engagement.
 
Adeniyi said: “The NCS reported a remarkable 74 per cent growth in revenue collection over the past year, recording N4.49 trillion between June 2023 and May 2024, compared to the N2.58 trillion collected during the corresponding period of the previous year.
 
“This achievement was underpinned by a sustained increase of 70.13 per cent in average monthly revenue collection, compared to the previous year. NCS recorded an average monthly revenue collection of N 343 billion, compared to the N202 billion monthly average. Notably, there was a substantial 122.35 per cent rise in revenue collection during the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period in the previous year. These gains were attributed to various strategic initiatives.” 
 
On trade facilitation, he said significant achievements had been made by the decongestion of ports and reopening of previously inaccessible access roads.  
 
He also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government and stakeholders in the industry, noting that the Service’s recent ranking under the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), aimed at streamlining business operations in Nigeria through reforms and policies.
 
“Between 2020 and 2022, the NCS maintained an average percentage score of 18.45 per cent, placing 28th out of the 37 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) ranked. By 2023, the NCS ranking fell further to 34th out of 39 MDAs, with a percentage score of 18.53 per cent. However, by 2024, I am delighted to announce that the NCS moved up 33 places, now tied at the top with four other MDAs out of 36 MDAs assessed, scoring 100 per cent, marking an 81.5 per cent increase. 
 
“This remarkable improvement is directly attributed to the trade facilitation measures implemented within the past year. The NCS remains committed to ensuring that all recommendations and global best practices are implemented to the highest standard,” he added.
 
According to him, the designation of a dedicated terminal for exports yielded significant gains, facilitating the processing of export goods through the Lilypond command.
 
He stated, “Initially handling 317 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) in transactions, the terminal now manages 7,464 SGDs, accounting for 19.49 per cent of the 38,294 export transactions recorded in 2023. By the first quarter of 2024, the Service had processed 10,786 transactions, with 3,162 (29.32 per cent) processed through the dedicated export terminal.”
 
Adeniyi also said the Service was committed to national security and would continue its efforts to stamp out smugglers and economic saboteurs.
 
The Service, he noted, recorded 63 seizures related to animal and wildlife products valued at N566 million, and seven seizures of arms and ammunition through the ports and borders. 
 
In terms of illicit drugs, 127 seizures involving narcotics and pharmaceutical products valued at over N6 billion were made, The Guardian gathered.