The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported that it generated N2.74trillion as against its six-month target of N2.54trillion in the first half of 2024, thereby surpassing the target by 8 percent and marking a 127 percent increase over the previous year’s revenue.
It also disclosed that N1.395 trillion was collected in the second quarter, exceeding the quarterly target by 10 percent and representing a 131 percent increase over the figures recorded in the second quarter (Q2) of 2023.
Its mid-year performance report made available to journalists by the National Public Relations Officer (NPRO), Abdullahi Maiwada, a Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) indicate that the key initiatives that contributed to the success include the e-auction platform, which generated over N1.34billion and the 90-day duty payment window for uncustomed vehicles, which raised the revenue by N4.37billion.
Speaking on the mid-year scorecard, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi said the measures significantly enhanced transparency, compliance and efficiency in customs processes within the period under review, underscoring the NCS’s commitment to excellence.
“The Nigeria Customs Service is pleased to announce its mid-year performance report, highlighting its core mandates of revenue collection, trade facilitation and societal protection.
“This report underscores the NCS’s commitment to supporting the policy direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. It aligns with our pledge to deliver a transparent and accessible system under the leadership of and his management team,” Adeniyi said.
He pointed out that the Service intensified its anti-smuggling operations in the first half of 2024, resulting in notable achievements and that from January to June 2024, the NCS made 2,442 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N25.520billion, which is 203 percent higher than the DPV of seizures in the first half of 2023.
In the second quarter of 2024, the NCS made 1,334 seizures with a DPV of N17.564 billion, representing a 121 percent increase over the first quarter of 2024. The top items seized include wildlife items, vehicles, arms and ammunition, foreign rice, pharmaceuticals and narcotics, with 32 suspects arrested and are in custody.
“Trade facilitation remains a core priority for the NCS. In the first half of 2024, the Service processed 620,467 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs), reflecting a reduction of approximately 39 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Despite the decline, the NCS has implemented several key initiatives to simplify and expedite customs processes.
“These include reinforcement of NCS automation procedures, capacity-building programs for officers, and public-private partnerships to enhance customs clearance efficiency. These efforts are crucial for enhancing Nigeria’s trade competitiveness and supporting economic growth” Adeniyi stated.
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The Customs helmsman noted that despite the achievements, the NCS faced several challenges in the first half of 2024, including significant fluctuations in the exchange rate, a lower volume of transactions, low compliance levels among importers and exporters and periodic downtime, adding: “These challenges impacted the consistency of revenue collection and overall operational efficiency.
“To address these challenges and enhance revenue collection, the NCS implemented several strategies, including real-time system auditing, post-clearance audits, verification of documents for the Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), ensuring compliance with import guidelines and the implementation of a pilot test for the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) scheme.
“Additionally, the NCS has recently introduced the Advance Ruling System (ARS), a legally binding decision on classification, valuation, and rules of origin before the importation or exportation of goods.
“Other pragmatic measures implemented to increase revenue, despite a drop in cargo throughput, included establishing a robust framework for dispute resolution, launching Operation Whirlwind, reshuffling strategic-level officers and robust stakeholders’ engagement.”
Adeniyi commended all officers and men of the NCS for their diligence and commitment and all stakeholders who played significant roles in achieving this performance while reaffirming the Nigeria Customs Service’s dedication in supporting the realization of government’s policies for a better Nigeria.
