The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) announced on Monday that it collected N7.2 trillion in revenue in 2025, exceeding its target amid strengthened border controls and new digital systems.

Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale revealed the figures during the International Customs Day 2026 celebration in Abuja, held under the theme, “Customs Protecting Society through Vigilance and Commitment.”

According to Adewale, the NCS surpassed its “target of 6.5 trillion in the positive variance of N697 billion,” describing the achievement as “a growth of over 10 percent against [Customs] target.”

The announcement marks a significant increase from N6.1 trillion collected in 2024, a shortfall that had prompted the Senate Committee on Customs to controversially raise the 2025 target to N10 trillion.

The revenue boost coincided with stepped-up enforcement measures. Adewale stated that Customs recorded more than 2,000 seizures during the year, intercepting prohibited and harmful goods—including narcotics, counterfeit items, and substandard consumer products—with a combined estimated value of N59 billion.

He also highlighted a surge in wildlife trafficking cases, particularly at airports, where large consignments of trafficked birds were seized.

Despite the gains, Adewale acknowledged ongoing delays at Nigerian ports. He stressed that bottlenecks were caused less by Customs processes and more by broader structural constraints across the port system.

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“Our challenge is that we cannot move goods fast, it is that goods are not allowed to move fast,” he said, emphasizing that faster cargo movement would require coordinated efforts among Customs, port authorities, and maritime operators.

He added that border security and procedural reforms remain the most effective ways “to protect society while facilitating trade.”

Revenue growth was most notable at Nigeria’s major ports. Tin Can Island Port generated approximately N1.57 trillion as of December 11, 2025, up from about N1.25 trillion in 2024.

Frank Onyeka, the area controller, attributed the increase to “tighter internal coordination, improved compliance and intelligence-led operations,” with bulk cargo, general merchandise, and used vehicles contributing the largest volumes.

Meanwhile, Apapa Port, the country’s largest revenue-generating command, recorded collections of about N2.93 trillion, reflecting growth of over 20 percent compared to 2024.

Emmanuel Oshoba, the area controller, credited the performance to “stronger leadership, disciplined manpower and greater use of technology,” notably the Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu), which aims “to reduce manual clearance and improve transparency.” Customs plans to expand B’Odogwu nationwide and introduce new high-capacity cargo scanners at key ports.

Adewale also unveiled the Time Release Study, describing it as “a continuous diagnostic tool aimed at making Nigeria’s trade environment more secure, predictable and globally competitive. It mirrors how others see our system, and has challenged us to respond.”