Minister Commends Customs for Groundbreaking Revenue Performance, Charges Service to Set Global Benchmarks in Trade Facilitation
• As Customs Board confirms appointment of DCG, 5 ACGs
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has earned commendation from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, for its ground breaking revenue performance, strategic technology investments, and ongoing trade facilitation reforms.
Speaking during his inaugural board meeting and facility tour at Customs Headquarters in Abuja last week, the Minister praised the Service’s leadership and officers for their remarkable progress in modernising operations and boosting national revenue.
According to him, Customs has demonstrated unprecedented operational strength in 2026, generating N4.03 trillion in the first half of the year alone, followed by N1.38 trillion across July and August. The agency, he says, remains firmly on track to achieve its ambitious N11 trillion annual target, a milestone driven by aggressive automation, intelligence-led reforms, and improved cargo processing strategies under Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi.
Impressed by the Service’s modern intelligence tools and technological infrastructure, Oyedele said Customs’ track record is the ideal springboard to propel Nigeria into a leading position in regional and global trade, according to a press statement issued by the National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD.
“Results are precisely what should propel us to do more,” the Minister stated, noting that Customs’ strong foundation equips the Service to pioneer world-class standards in port efficiency, end-to-end transparency, faster cargo clearance timelines, and revenue integrity. “Nigeria must lead through performance, not rhetoric.”
Reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s full backing, Oyedele assured that the Federal Government remains committed to empowering the NCS with cutting-edge technology, modern operational tools, and strong policy support to sustain its trajectory as a premier trade facilitator in Africa.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB), at its 65th Regular Meeting held on 2nd September, 2026 chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Professor Taiwo Oyedele, considered official matters presented by its standing committees and, following the statutory retirement of some members of the Service, approved the confirmation of the appointments of one (1) Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs (DCG) and five (5) Assistant Comptroller-Generals of Customs (ACGs).
The appointments were made in accordance with the Federal Character Policy of the Government, as provided in Section 14(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. The newly confirmed DCG is Constantine Dim (South-East), while the confirmed ACGs are Pascal Chibuoke (South-East), Sani Yahaya (North-Central), Franklin Onyeka (South-South), and Chibuzor Eyakwaire (South-South), Ethelbert Nnaji (South-East).
Furthermore, the Board approved the upgrade of the NCS Medical Corp to a Sub-department headed by Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs to be assisted by nine (9) Comptrollers. The Board was also briefed on the ongoing recruitment exercise, as successful candidates have been invited for documentation, physical, and medical screening, expected to commence on the 7th of September 2026. On disciplinary matters, the Board deliberated on several appeals and resolved accordingly, with outcomes including dismissal, exoneration, warning, compulsory retirement, and reinstatement of affected officers.
Similarly, the Board reviewed the Service’s revenue performance for 2026 against an annual target of N11.074 trillion. As at end of June 2026, collections stood at N4.30 trillion, representing 36.4 percent of the annual target. The Board also noted that the Service intensified efforts through full deployment of the Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu), expanded post-clearance and real-time audit, the Authorised Economic Operator and advance ruling programmes, the deployment of geospatial technology, joint border patrols, and deeper engagement with the trading community.
Furthermore, based on the report of the Technical and Operations Committee, the Board approved the Nigeria Customs Service De-Minimis Regulation, 2025, to align it with provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The Board was also updated on ICT digital transformation initiatives recording substantial progress across trade systems, HR automation, NII infrastructure, and digital applications, as well as an invitation from the Federal Ministry of Finance for memoranda proposing amendments to the Nigeria Customs Service Act for possible inclusion in the 2027 Finance Bill.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, on behalf of the NCSB, congratulates all appointed management members, while reaffirming the Service’s commitment to accountability, institutional strengthening, and sustained revenue mobilisation.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has earned commendation from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, for its ground breaking revenue performance, strategic technology investments, and ongoing trade facilitation reforms.
Speaking during his inaugural board meeting and facility tour at Customs Headquarters in Abuja last week, the Minister praised the Service’s leadership and officers for their remarkable progress in modernising operations and boosting national revenue.
According to him, Customs has demonstrated unprecedented operational strength in 2026, generating N4.03 trillion in the first half of the year alone, followed by N1.38 trillion across July and August. The agency, he says, remains firmly on track to achieve its ambitious N11 trillion annual target, a milestone driven by aggressive automation, intelligence-led reforms, and improved cargo processing strategies under Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi.
Impressed by the Service’s modern intelligence tools and technological infrastructure, Oyedele said Customs’ track record is the ideal springboard to propel Nigeria into a leading position in regional and global trade, according to a press statement issued by the National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, PhD.
“Results are precisely what should propel us to do more,” the Minister stated, noting that Customs’ strong foundation equips the Service to pioneer world-class standards in port efficiency, end-to-end transparency, faster cargo clearance timelines, and revenue integrity. “Nigeria must lead through performance, not rhetoric.”
Reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s full backing, Oyedele assured that the Federal Government remains committed to empowering the NCS with cutting-edge technology, modern operational tools, and strong policy support to sustain its trajectory as a premier trade facilitator in Africa.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB), at its 65th Regular Meeting held on 2nd September, 2026 chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Professor Taiwo Oyedele, considered official matters presented by its standing committees and, following the statutory retirement of some members of the Service, approved the confirmation of the appointments of one (1) Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs (DCG) and five (5) Assistant Comptroller-Generals of Customs (ACGs).
The appointments were made in accordance with the Federal Character Policy of the Government, as provided in Section 14(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. The newly confirmed DCG is Constantine Dim (South-East), while the confirmed ACGs are Pascal Chibuoke (South-East), Sani Yahaya (North-Central), Franklin Onyeka (South-South), and Chibuzor Eyakwaire (South-South), Ethelbert Nnaji (South-East).
Furthermore, the Board approved the upgrade of the NCS Medical Corp to a Sub-department headed by Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs to be assisted by nine (9) Comptrollers. The Board was also briefed on the ongoing recruitment exercise, as successful candidates have been invited for documentation, physical, and medical screening, expected to commence on the 7th of September 2026. On disciplinary matters, the Board deliberated on several appeals and resolved accordingly, with outcomes including dismissal, exoneration, warning, compulsory retirement, and reinstatement of affected officers.
Similarly, the Board reviewed the Service’s revenue performance for 2026 against an annual target of N11.074 trillion. As at end of June 2026, collections stood at N4.30 trillion, representing 36.4 percent of the annual target. The Board also noted that the Service intensified efforts through full deployment of the Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu), expanded post-clearance and real-time audit, the Authorised Economic Operator and advance ruling programmes, the deployment of geospatial technology, joint border patrols, and deeper engagement with the trading community.
Furthermore, based on the report of the Technical and Operations Committee, the Board approved the Nigeria Customs Service De-Minimis Regulation, 2025, to align it with provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The Board was also updated on ICT digital transformation initiatives recording substantial progress across trade systems, HR automation, NII infrastructure, and digital applications, as well as an invitation from the Federal Ministry of Finance for memoranda proposing amendments to the Nigeria Customs Service Act for possible inclusion in the 2027 Finance Bill.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, on behalf of the NCSB, congratulates all appointed management members, while reaffirming the Service’s commitment to accountability, institutional strengthening, and sustained revenue mobilisation.
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