The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has listed strategic plans to maximise revenue collection, assuring Nigerians of their readiness to meet the government’s yearly revenue target.
Unveiling the plans at a media parley in Port Harcourt to precede the zonal public relations conference in the region, Abdullahi Maiwada, deputy controller and Customs National Public Relations Officer (PRO), mentioned the critical place of technology in revenue tracking and mobilization in the Customs.
He was reacting to concerns about steady increase in yearly targets and how the Service may be pushed into leaning too heavily on business owners.
The target began in 2022 at slightly above N3trillion only to hit N6.54trn in 2025, and over N11trn in 2026. In 2022 when the target appeared very high, the Service overshot to N4.49trn, recording a 74% increase.
Revenue hit N6.1trn in 2024 and in 2025 hit N7.27trn in 2025, exceeding expectations by 10.24%. Some strategies were credited for the steady rise in NCS including digital integration with automated systems like time release study, enforcement and audits, voluntary compliance, etc.
Now, Maiwada said there are other arms through which Customs is going to collect more revenues. ‘Last year, we enrolled the business-to-business (B2B) Customs Management System, and half year ASYCUDA (Automated Systems for Customs Data). But this year, it is B2B throughout.’
He said ASYCUDA is a computerized customs management system developed by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). It is indicated globally as being able to process cargo manifests, customs declarations, and transit procedures. It is designed to modernize operations, increase government revenue, and accelerate international trade.
The deputy controller said with ICT innovations, the Customs currently has a team that is working on Transit Electronic Cargo Tracking system to make sure that diversion of containers is mitigated. ‘So, with all those innovations, we are optimistic that the environment will be conducive for us to collect more revenue.’
He said there is a balance, and there’s no point for concern. ‘If you allow smuggling to take place because you want to collect revenue, definitely it will affect your collection. And if you don’t facilitate legitimate trade, it will also affect your revenue collection. So they are all interoperable systems-subsystems that work together to translate to what we are achieving in the area of revenue.
‘So, we are not focusing our mind only on revenue; we want to facilitate legitimate trade, and we want to block leakages as much as possible. So there’s no point for concern, and we are hopeful that we are going to achieve targets.’
He said wealth is created by effective promotion and protection of trade to boost local production, not be aiding smuggling. ‘There is direct relationship between trade facilitation, revenue collection, as well as suppression of smuggling. So we are tightening our loose ends to make sure that leakages are mitigated to the barest minimum.’
He talked about effective efforts in ‘Authorized Economic Operator’ programme. ‘And the more we have companies, the more trade will be facilitated, the more we collect more revenue.’
There is nothing wrong in waivers:
He said there is nothing wrong in having waivers in the system, saying waivers are meant to stimulate the economy by improving manufacturing.
He talked about the 2026 fiscal policy measure and said Customs only enforced the law. ‘For vehicles with engine capacity above 2,000 cc, that is 2.0-liter engine, we are collecting a tax surcharge (which is called Green Tax Surcharge) of 2%, as well as 4% for vehicles above 4,000 cc.
‘Now, the fiscal policy has also reduced what you call the IAT (that is Import Adjustment Tax) of vehicles. Brand new vehicles from 20% to 10%, and from 15% to 5% for used vehicles, among many other adjustments that have to do with reviving so many sectors of the economy. Where you have surcharges, where you have levies imposed, it is to make sure that the money is integrated into the economy so that it translates into boosting our manufacturing capacity.
‘So fiscal policies of government, we are now implementing 2026 fiscal policy measure. We are going to issue a statement after approval by the Comptroller-General of Customs and the Presidential Gas Initiative where some vehicles were exempted from payment of import duty.
‘So these policies are not arbitrary, whatever the government is doing is to stimulate the economy and make sure each and every sector is developed. If there are items that are put at 0%, if there are items that are luxury items, they are put at 35% as well as levies. Why? To discourage importation of those items, to not discourage, to stop dumping of items into our country, to make sure that we are also a productive economy.
‘So the policies are not arbitrary, please, my brother. They are well conceptualized. It does not mean that the businesses of clearance will not take place. We are putting more eye, we are deploying more resources, to make sure that illicit items do not find their way into the country through those borders.’
Areas of reforms:
‘Now, someone asked about areas of reforms we are embarking on. Now, in the area of trade facilitation, we have launched an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO), which was thought to be practically impossible. Initially, we were doing what I call a quasi-form of AEO, which is called Fast Track 2.0. But the AEO we are having is one that is recognized, it is in partnership with the WTO. It is a process that before you are granted validation as an AEO member, you have to meet the qualification criteria. There are so many processes.
‘I went to Gambia, and they mentioned one or two things, and it’s still like that. So our process is unified. What you see in Gambia is the same AEO that you will see in Singapore. What you are going to see in other places is the same.
‘So I would like to tell you that AEO is a kind of preferential treatment to compliant traders. What we do, we make sure that when you come in, your goods will be facilitated without checks, without delays. You’ll be given what I call VIP treatment, because you are compliant. It’s a reward for compliance.
There is integrity in Nigeria, too:
‘So we have companies in Nigeria that have integrity and have done this kind of voluntary disclosure. And we have those who abused the process, and their license was revoked.
‘Then another issue is Advanced Ruling which is a legally binding decision on classification, valuation, or rules of origin prior to importation of goods. Now today, we have companies-you just sign for Advanced Ruling, a ruling will be given, it’s binding for one year, and when you come into the port, nobody will delay. It’s legally binding on us. We classify those goods, we value those goods, and it’s also a trade facilitation tool, which is in line with Article 3 of WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement.’
He said another issue is in terms of innovation. ‘Today, we are proudly saying that we have developed an indigenous clearance platform. The source codes are here in Nigeria, developed by Nigerians, and has a Nigerian name, and that’s what they use for clearance today in Nigeria Customs Service. And last month, a company called Bergmans Security Limited, which is the mother company of our Trade Modernization Project Limited company, has been signed by African Continental Free Trade Area to be a model which AfCFTA is going to use for clearance of goods. So it’s a Nigerian company, and now it’s going global.
‘Then we have also One-Stop Shop, which is an effort to eliminate multiple checks, alerts, and so on and so forth. It is an initiative to make sure that trade is facilitated.
‘On the 26th of January, 2026, we launched TRS, which is Time Release Studies in PTML and Apapa Port. It’s a scientific study to find out the time required to clear a good from the point of arrival to the point of exit. And we did that study, and it’s available on our website. You can click on custom.gov.ng, the report is available. You will see the agencies, including Customs, where delays occurred in PTML and Apapa Port. And we are going to escalate the TRS to other commands and formations in due course.’
Frequently smuggled products in Niger Delta:
The Customs Service listed illegally refined petroleum products, tramadol, and other items among the most-smuggled goods in the Niger Delta.
This part was disclosed at the parley by Esien Etim Esiet, deputy Comptroller and Acting Controller of the NCS Eastern Marine Command. Esiet, who heads the specialized Customs unit that patrols the nation’s eastern waterways, said waterways are a ready and accessible route for smugglers, especially in areas where security is lax or non-existent.
He said almost every banned item is smuggled by water, adding: ‘I just came back from Oron, where I went to auction seized petroleum products. So almost everything goes through the water. The smuggler wants a way out. The only ways are either by land or by water. If he sees that the water is quicker for him and it’s a little bit security-free, he goes through the water.’
Esiet noted that petroleum products, endangered species, drugs and everything you can think of go through the water.
Resistance to 100% scanning:
He said the 100% scanning scheme is being resisted. ‘Then another aspect that we are working on is, our non-intrusive inspection technology, that is scanning. I think we have started 100% scanning in Apapa, and we have started integration of scanning images that are scanned with your declaration.
Those are checks and balances we are putting in place. There is resistance, both internally and externally, because people will resist change.
100% scanning heading to Onne Port:
He went on: ‘So, very soon, we are coming to Onne with the 100% scanning operation. And we will make sure that all items that come in are pre-scanned, and the images will be stored so can always review and analyse the images.
‘And they are transmitted to headquarters also for further analysis. So, our non-intrusive inspection technology unit is also working, and I’m sure they are going to deploy also the next set of scanners that are coming. I’m sure Onne will be part of those ports, and among many other ports.’
Other matters:
Maiwada said the government is responsible for formulation of policies, and Customs is responsible for implementation of fiscal policies. These policies are not done arbitrarily. These policies are properly conceptualized, there IS proper engagement before government decides to arrive at a particular policy. He was responding to the frequent change of trade policies which may push Customs into confusion and into use discretionary power.
Customs cannot succeed without the media:
He dwelt on the relationship with the media, saying Customs would not operate transformation without the media.
‘We have also embarked on reforms in the Nigeria Customs Service in the area of innovation, trade facilitation, and those reforms and innovation cannot work in isolation because the media is responsible for informing members of the public to understand these reforms.
‘As these reforms continue to unfold, there’s need for accurate, timely, and responsible dissemination of information. You serve as a bridge through which government policies, customs procedures, trade regulation, and enforcement activities are communicated to stakeholders and the general public.
You can only achieve this through balanced reportage.’
The PRO said that was the reason for the media parley carefully designed as an interactive platform to deepen collaboration, strengthen professionalism, also strengthen relationships between us.
‘Permit me to acknowledge and appreciate your vital contribution to projecting our activities, reforms, achievements, and even challenges. This is what makes us stand today.’
On the need for training of media men covering Customs, Maiwada said such scheme has already in Abuja and will definitely get to Port Harcourt. ‘So it is something that is a continuous process. We have a strategic communication plan for each year, and in 2026, we hope that we are going to achieve some of these milestones in terms of training and retraining.
‘And I keep on saying, for you to inform, you also need to be informed. If you don’t understand these reforms, you don’t understand the processes and policies of government, it’d be difficult for you to inform others.’
He called on media men to join in fighting against smuggling of hard drugs because it is destroying the youth.