Kano State governor, Abba Yusuf, has commended the Kano/Jigawa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for recording a historic 10.1 percent rise in revenue, describing the feat as a testament to reforms that have restored confidence between the command and the business community.
Gov. Yusuf, who was represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Investment, Shehu Sagagi, gave the commendation at a dinner organised by the Kano/Jigawa Stakeholders’ Forum to celebrate the command’s emergence as the most improved revenue command at the 2025 CGC’s conference, having grown its revenue from N85.3 billion in 2024 to N93.9 billion between January and October 2025.
The governor praised the Area Controller, Dalhatu Zurmi, for what he described as a courageous and exemplary tenure marked by innovation, discipline and a firm stand against illicit drugs.
“I am very happy with the seizure of illicit drugs shown in the documentary. This problem affects every family and every household in Kano. With efforts like this, we will gradually rid Kano, Northern Nigeria and the country of this menace,” he said.
Gov. Yusuf urged the controller to document his achievements for the benefit of future officers, noting that his reforms and service delivery had already distinguished him.
“It is my prayer that your tenure becomes a reference point for those that will come after you,” he added.
In his remarks, Zurmi said the command’s performance was built on the comptroller-general’s mantra of consolidation, innovation and collaboration.
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He recalled that his policies faced stiff resistance when he assumed duty on February 3, 2025.
“What I brought to Kano was unpopular. Nobody believed in my programmes. But today, from crisis to trust, we have enlightened, sensitized, innovated and modernized customs processes and procedures,” he said.
Zurmi attributed the revenue success to the business community, factories, importers and market leaders who contributed resources to digitisation and operational upgrades.
“The celebration is not for customs. It is for you,” he declared.
He further noted that with his retirement approaching in January 2026, the structures he had already established would sustain the reforms, stressing that the old way of doing things is gone forever.
Meanwhile, other stakeholders at the event applauded the command’s transformation, describing the achievement as unprecedented in the history of the Kano/Jigawa Area Command.
