The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced a revenue generation of N3.35 trillion between January and May 2026. This performance was attributed to enhanced trade facilitation, improved customs processing, and intensified border enforcement operations nationwide.
Assistant Comptroller of Customs Titus Omajali, representing the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, disclosed these figures during a joint security news briefing in Abuja. The briefing, organized by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), showcased operational achievements of various defence, security, and law enforcement agencies.
Trade Facilitation and Export Growth
Beyond its revenue generation, the NCS facilitated exports valued at $1.218 billion during the five-month period. These exports were processed through 21,376 export containers, indicating sustained improvements in Nigeria’s export trade.
Omajali noted a strong recovery in export performance after a dip to $171.76 million in March. Exports climbed to $274.83 million in April and further to $275.90 million in May.
This sharp increase was accompanied by a significant rise in export container traffic, more than doubling from 2,847 containers in March to 6,144 containers in April. This signals increased participation by exporters and stronger trade activities, reflecting ongoing efforts to expand Nigeria’s non-oil export base.
The service also processed nearly 700,000 import declarations and issued more than 112,000 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAARs) within the same period.
Intensified Enforcement Operations
Alongside its trade facilitation efforts, the Nigeria Customs Service intensified enforcement operations against smuggling, illicit financial flows, and wildlife trafficking. The service recorded 122 illicit drug seizures, intercepting 375,457 units of narcotics with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N24.33 billion.
Narcotics accounted for over 91% of all seized items during this period, with March recording the highest number of interceptions following major enforcement operations that resulted in the seizure of over 248,500 units.
The NCS also intercepted approximately $789,550 in undeclared and falsely declared foreign currencies across six separate cases. These violations included concealment of cash in passengers’ baggage, under-declaration of foreign currencies, and the discovery of multiple Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards allegedly intended for illicit financial transactions.
Furthermore, the agency recorded 17 wildlife trafficking cases involving 104 live animals and 21 endangered wildlife species and products. These included pangolins, African Crowned Cranes, worked ivory, buffalo horns, and hyena skins.
Sustained Revenue Trajectory
The N3.35 trillion collected in the first five months of 2026 builds on the Nigeria Customs Service’s record-breaking collections in 2025, when the agency generated N7.281 trillion in total revenue.
A significant contributor to the 2025 performance was the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme. This initiative boosted collections from participating companies from N1.222 trillion before certification to N1.585 trillion after certification, representing an increase of N362.79 billion, or 29.68%.
As of October 2025, 51 AEO-certified companies accounted for 21.77% of the Customs Service’s total revenue. Customs duties paid by AEO participants increased by 85.66%, driven by improved compliance and higher volumes of legitimate trade.
