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Customs

Adewale Adeniyi: Crusader for trade liberalisation, modern customs operations 

Funso Olojo 
Adewale Adeniyi, the 14th indigenous Comptroller-General of Customs and 31st since the establishment of Customs in 1891, is vigorously but steadily prosecuting a new order in the agency.
A new order in customs operations and administration, aided by the revolutionary Customs Act of 2023 and engendered through far-reaching reforms that are unprecedented in the service.
A reformation agenda that is meant to berth modern customs administration in the country.
No sooner was he appointed as Acting CGC by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2023 than he hit the ground running to change the face of the Customs.
As if he was impatient to transform the operations of the agency and lend it to the aspirations of the trading public, Adeniyi triggered a flurry of activities that made the operations of customs buzzing with pulsating intensity.
Pronto, he announced the disbandment of the notorious CGC strike force used by the previous customs administrations to terrorise importers and their agents and which encumbered the clearing process.
He also went on to streamline the multiplicity of customs checkpoints hitherto used as points for extortions.
All these measures are meant to remove the encumbrances in the process of goods clearance and delivery system to facilitate trade.
The confirmation of his appointment as the substantive Customs boss in October 2023 only helped to galvanise him more to carry out his crusade for modern customs operations with higher velocity.
Eager to align Nigeria Customs with modern tools for customs operations and administration as enunciated by the World Customs Organization(WCO), Adeniyi activated the use of twin modern tools for trade facilitation which are Authorized Economic  Operator(AEO) and Advance Ruling concepts.
An Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) is a designation that is granted by customs authorities to economic operators established in the customs territory of the European Union, who are part of the international supply chain, involved in customs-related operations and who have met certain standards of security and compliance.
AEO status is granted by customs authorities once the economic operator meets certain prescribed requirements and criteria.
AEOs are considered, from a customs procedures perspective, to be low-risk and are granted benefits such as expedited clearance, reduced inspections, and easier access to simplified customs procedures.
The AEO programme is designed to enhance international supply chain security and facilitate legitimate trade.
Similarly, Advance Ruling is a concept wherein the Customs Administration provides a written decision upon request from the importer concerning valuation, tariff classification, or origin of goods before they are imported.
Advance Ruling has been proven as a valuable tool for trade facilitation, benefiting both Customs administration and traders.
It enhances predictability and certainty in Customs treatment for goods.
This procedure also promotes cooperation and confidence between Customs and traders, following the guidelines set out by the World Customs Organisation Safe Framework of Standards.
 WCO has over the years encouraged its member- nations to take advantage of these tools for facilitating modern and legitimate trade.
However previous customs administrations in Nigeria had consistently ignored the WCO advice, thus making goods clearance and delivery system cumbersome.
But desirous of changing the narrative in customs operations and administration, the NCS, at the prompting of CGC Adeniyi, gave vent to these modernisation tools which he hoped to deploy for enhanced performance.
So, in one fell swoop, the customs launched the use of AEO and Advance Ruling concepts in the first quarter of 2024, asking the trading public to take advantage of these modern tools for trade facilitation.
As a follow-up to this, the Customs management established a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the implementation of Advance Ruling.
The decision was reached during the 6th Management Meeting of the NCS held on August 23, 2023.
The basis for this SOP lies in Section 24 sub-sections 1-9 of the new NCS Act, 2023, and Article 3 of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
Similarly and during the same period, the Service launched a Time Release Study (TRS) to enhance the quick release of goods by determining the time actual time goods leave customs control.
The World Customs Organisation’s Time Release Study is a strategic and internationally recognised tool to measure the actual time required for the release and /or clearance of goods from the time of arrival until the physical release of cargo with a view to finding bottlenecks in the trade flow process and taking necessary measures to improve.
Not done in his passionate efforts to enthrone efficiency in customs operations, Adeniyi said the service is committed to implementing the Lagos Continental Document produced through intensive stakeholders’ engagement and participation at the December CGC conference.
According to him, such measures as the resolution of multiple alerts, deduction of Customs’ multiple checkpoints and improvement of officers conduct are vigorously being pursued.
“The Lagos Continental Declaration document was a product of exhaustive consultations with stakeholders during.
” This document is presently undergoing implementation.
“Initial measures, including the resolution of multiple alerts, reduction of customs checkpoints, and improvement of officer conduct, have been actively undertaken.
” Additional components of the declaration will be pursued with thoroughness, and we anticipate completing due diligence by the end of the first quarter of this year”
All these measures are meant to give the trading public an efficient service delivery rooted in the use of modern tools for customs operations.
Added to these initiatives is the establishment of Customs laboratory.
”All these activities, centred on stakeholders,as previously committed, will soon be fully operational, illustrating our dedication concrete action” the CGC said.
He however gave a caveat that only compliant traders will enjoy enhanced Customs operations as his administration will not compromise strict adherence to Customs guidelines and regulations.
The icing on the cake of the CGC’s efforts to enthrone modern, efficient and customer-sensitive customs was his recent trip to China.
The China trip was strategic to his crusade for modernisation of customs operations and administration as it coincided with the 6th WCO Global AEO Conference, held between Wednesday, 8 to 10 May 2024.
The CGC leveraged his attendance to sell modernisation programme of NCS to the international world.
He also used the platform to integrate Nigeria’s fledging AEO programme into mainstream international practice.
Adeniyi also told his international audience the determination of his administration to nurture AEO programme from its present infancy stage in Nigeria to the full-fledged maturity stage that will be deployed to facilitate and expand the frontier of trade in the country.
While in China, Adeniyi led his management team to the Headquarters of Huawei, a famous information and communications technology company in Shenzhen, China, where he discussed opportunities embedded in the Nigeria Customs Service Trade Modernisation Project.
His discussion with the IT giant centered around his passion to modernise customs operations and administration.
 
Similarly, in China, NCS, led by Adeniyi, signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) to foster bilateral relationship for the enhancement of economic growth.
This MoU was instructive given the volume of trade between Nigeria and China. From statistics, Nigeria is a net importer of Chinese goods and services.
Therefore, the Customs MoU with China will not only strengthen bilateral trade agreement between the two countries, but it will also help Nigeria’s business community which has China as its business hub.
The MoU will also probably stem the tide of some of the fake products imported from China by unscrupulous Nigerian importers.
So far, Adeniyi has shown an uncommon passion for leading modern, automated and digitalized customs that is committed to the facilitation of trade and removing any identifiable encumbrances in the goods clearance and delivery system.
His commitment to enhancing trade facilitation through the deployment of modern customs tools is rooted in his belief, and rightly so, that trade facilitation will enhance revenue collection as espoused by the WCO.
Little wonder that during his less than a year of stewardship, the revenue performance of the customs has grown exponentially.
In the first quarter of 2024, the service recorded over N1.3 trillion in revenue,  representing an increase of 122.35% compared to the figure for last year.
During this period, the service witnessed astronomical growth in revenue collection with a significant increase in January 2024 with N390.824 billion earned, marking a 95.6% rise from January 2023’s N199.81 billion.
The revenue growth rates for February and March 2024 stood at 138.68% and 132.76% respectively when compared to the same months in 2023.
This also explains why the CGC was confident that the service would be able to meet the 2024 revenue target of 5 trillion with his highly motivated and determined team of men and officers of the service.
The 2024 target was higher than 2023 figures of N3.67 trillion from which the service collected N3.21 trillion.
However, to whom much is expected, much is given.
This reversed axiom signposts the officers’ welfare programme under CGC.
To enhance their performance, deserving men and officers have been rewarded with promotions and appointments to higher ranks, the quantum and rapidity of which was described as unprecedented in the history of the Service.
When Adeniyi assumed duties in 2023, he promised officers that they would be given their dues.
As promised, there were promotion exams in September 2023, two months after he was made an Acting CGC and a month before his appointment was confirmed.
The results for the September promotion exams came out in December, the same year, very unprecedented and a cleared departure from the previous practice of delayed promotions.
Twice in 2024, deserving officers have been given their deserved promotions and appointments.
The first one was in the first quarter of 2024 while the second one this year was the one announced this month, May 2024 where 13 officers in the management cadre were appointed to their next ranks.
In the latest appointment, the customs board confirmed the appointment of five Deputy Comptrollers- General and eight Assistant Comptrollers General of Customs, all of whom have since been decorated.
This was part of the motivational tools adopted by the CGC to galvanise his men and officers to key into his vision of modern Nigeria Customs Service.
With his transformational efforts, Adeniyi is set to bequeath a long-lasting legacy of efficient, modern and automated Nigeria Customs Service on the country and which effects will reverberate till the next generation
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Customs

Customs courts Senate to amend Customs Act for enhanced operational capacity

Funso Olojo, Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called on the Senate to amend critical provisions of the 2023 Customs Act to bring Nigeria’s customs administration in line with rapidly evolving global trade practices and strengthen the Service’s operational capacity.

The appeal was made at a retreat organised by the NCS for members of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs on August 5, 2026, where lawmakers were briefed on the Service’s ongoing modernisation programme and the need for stronger legislative oversight and statutory support.

Speaking at the retreat, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, urged the lawmakers to review the legal framework governing customs administration, arguing that Nigeria’s trade laws must evolve alongside emerging trends in international commerce and customs management.

Adeniyi said effective legislative oversight could only be achieved when lawmakers had a comprehensive understanding of the changing nature of customs operations and the reforms being implemented by the Service.

He explained that the retreat was designed to bridge existing information gaps and provide members of the Senate committee with a clearer understanding of the transformation taking place within the NCS.

According to him, such understanding would enable the lawmakers to provide informed oversight and the statutory backing required to sustain the Service’s modernisation agenda.

“While some provisions had worked as intended, others had proved difficult to apply or had been overtaken by the rapidly changing trade environment.

“We are requesting considerable amendments to ensure the Act remains relevant to fast-moving trade policies and supports the Service’s modernisation agenda,” Adeniyi said.

The Customs boss stressed that although the Service currently enjoys strong support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the NCS Board under the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, lasting reforms require statutory protection that goes beyond the tenure of any particular administration.

He said legislative amendments would provide the institutional stability required to consolidate the gains of the ongoing reforms and ensure that future administrations could build on the foundation already being laid.

Highlighting the breadth of the NCS modernisation programme, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, Tijani Abbey, outlined several initiatives being implemented to transform customs administration.

Among them are the deployment of the indigenous B’Odogwu Trade Management System, intelligence-driven post-clearance audits, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, coordinated border management and end-to-end digital process integration.

These initiatives, he explained, are aimed at improving revenue collection, facilitating legitimate trade, reducing human intervention in customs processes and strengthening national security.

The reforms are also expected to enhance transparency, improve compliance and make Nigeria’s trading environment more competitive by aligning customs procedures with international best practices.

Responding, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs, Senator Isah Jibrin, commended the NCS for surpassing its revenue targets despite the operational challenges confronting the Service.

Jibrin assured the Customs management that the National Assembly was prepared to provide the legislative support required to consolidate the Service’s achievements and address identified constraints.

“What you need to do is to identify your challenges, try to address them as much as possible, so as to have a much more robust, inclusive, and beyond-budget performance. Where you require legislative backing, please do not hesitate to call on us,” Jibrin advised.

The Senate committee chairman also congratulated Adeniyi on his re-election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, describing the feat as a reflection of Nigeria’s growing influence in global customs administration and international trade.

The retreat therefore marked a significant step towards closer collaboration between the NCS and the legislature, particularly at a time when Nigeria is seeking to modernise its trade architecture, increase revenue mobilisation and improve the efficiency of its borders and ports.

For the Customs Service, the proposed amendment of the Act is not merely about changing outdated provisions but creating a legal framework capable of supporting a technology-driven, intelligence-led and globally competitive customs administration.

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Customs

NCS intercepts container concealing pump-action rifle parts, seizes ₦373.8m worth of cannabis products at Tincan Port

Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a container concealing components of pump-action rifles and seized cannabis-infused products with a combined street value of ₦373.8 million at the Tincan Island Port Command in Lagos.

Announcing the seizures on Thursday, August 6th,2016, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the operations as a major breakthrough in the Service’s sustained campaign against the importation of prohibited items that pose serious threats to national security and public health.

Addressing journalists alongside representatives of other security agencies, Adeniyi said the seizures underscore the NCS’ unwavering commitment to protecting Nigeria’s borders through intelligence-driven enforcement and enhanced risk management.

According to him, Container No. TEMU 184536/9, which arrived aboard MV VELIKA on July 8, 2026, was flagged by the Service’s intelligence-based risk management system and placed under intensive surveillance before undergoing a detailed physical examination at the Customs Enforcement Station.

The examination uncovered concealed crates containing knocked-down components preliminarily identified as JoJeff pump-action rifles.

The Customs boss disclosed that the recovered firearm components are currently undergoing comprehensive technical examination and inventory to determine their exact quantity and configuration.

Adeniyi further revealed that investigations extended beyond the seizure, leading to the arrest of one suspect on July 31, 2026, at the Migfo Bonded Terminal while attempting to facilitate the release of the container.

He explained that documentary evidence, financial records and telecommunications analysis established the suspect’s connection with the named consignee, including a ₦10,000 payment traced to a company account linked to the consignee on the day of the arrest.

According to the CGC, two suspects are currently in Customs custody assisting investigators, while another principal suspect remains at large and is being actively tracked by security operatives.

In a separate operation, Customs officers intercepted two 40-foot containers conveying cannabis-infused products cleverly concealed alongside two used vehicles, two used pumping generators, rolls of blue polypropylene spunbond fabric, new tubular batteries and thunder arrester cables.

The seized narcotic products include:
109 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused pre-roll cookies containing 8,720 pieces, weighing 17.44kg, with a street value of ₦308,792,640.
125 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused gummies comprising 740 packs, weighing 515.2kg, valued at ₦40,700,000.

Others are 73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies comprising 442 packs, weighing 309.4kg, with a street value of ₦24,310,000.

The total street value of the intercepted cannabis-infused products was put at ₦373,802,640.

Adeniyi noted that the interceptions demonstrate the growing sophistication of transnational criminal networks exploiting legitimate international trade channels to smuggle illicit arms and narcotic substances into the country.

He said the successful operations also validate the effectiveness of the Nigeria Customs Service’s intelligence-led enforcement strategy, advanced risk profiling systems and robust collaboration with sister security and law enforcement agencies.

The Comptroller-General reaffirmed the Service’s resolve to dismantle criminal networks engaged in smuggling, stressing that every individual connected to the illegal operations would be identified, apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“Nigeria’s ports will never serve as safe havens for the trafficking of illicit weapons, narcotics or other prohibited goods,” Adeniyi declared.

He commended officers and men of the Tincan Island Port Command and the Customs Enforcement Unit for their vigilance, professionalism and dedication, which culminated in the successful interceptions.

The CGC also acknowledged the continued support of sister security and law enforcement agencies in safeguarding the nation’s borders.

Reassuring Nigerians of the Service’s commitment to its statutory mandate, Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service would remain resolute in securing the nation’s borders, facilitating legitimate trade and preventing the importation of prohibited and dangerous goods.

He urged members of the public to continue providing credible intelligence to support the fight against smuggling and transnational organised crime, adding that the Service would keep Nigerians informed as investigations progress and the prosecution of the suspects begins.

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Customs

Lilypond Export Command records $792.5m export value in three months, processes 5,510 containers

Funso Olojo, Editor

The Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recorded exports valued at $792.5 million in the second quarter of 2026, processing a total of 5,510 export containers between April and June.

The Command’s export performance represented an increase of $192.9 million, or 24.35 per cent, compared with the corresponding period of 2025.

Disclosing the figures during a press briefing on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, the Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Samuel Olusanya Ariyibi, said the impressive performance reflected the Command’s commitment to facilitating non-oil exports and supporting the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda.

A breakdown of the quarterly performance showed that export transactions valued at $274.8 million were processed in April 2026, compared with $237.5 million in April 2025, representing an increase of $37.2 million or 13.55 per cent.

In May, export value rose to $275.9 million, up from $180.9 million recorded in the corresponding month of 2025.

This represented an increase of $94.9 million, translating to 34.40 per cent growth.

Similarly, exports processed in June stood at $241.8 million, compared with approximately $181 million recorded in June 2025, reflecting an increase of about $60.8 million or 25.15 per cent.

Comptroller Ariyibi also disclosed that the Command handled 5,510 export containers during the quarter, compared with 3,732 containers in the same period of 2025. This represents an increase of 1,778 containers, translating to 32.27 per cent growth in container throughput.

Agricultural products accounted for the largest share of exports during the period, with shipments valued at $422.09 million, up from $369.85 million in the corresponding period of 2025.

This represented an increase of about $52.24 million, underscoring the sustained growth of Nigeria’s agricultural export sector.

Manufactured goods ranked second among export commodities, rising significantly from $120.3 million in the second quarter of 2025 to about $350.67 million in the same period of 2026.

The increase of approximately $230.37 million highlights the growing contribution of value-added products to Nigeria’s export earnings.

In contrast, exports of solid minerals declined sharply from about $91.16 million in the second quarter of 2025 to about $7.18 million during the review period, a drop of nearly $84 million.

According to the Area Controller, the decline aligns with the Federal Government’s policy of promoting local value addition and domestic processing of mineral resources before export.

On revenue, the Command generated ₦95.26 million as the 2.5 per cent Export Surcharge, compared with ₦149.40 million generated during the corresponding period in 2025.

This represented a decline of ₦54.13 million, or 36.24 per cent.

However, collections under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) increased from ₦4.87 billion to ₦5.38 billion, representing a growth of approximately ₦512 million, or 9.52 per cent.

Speaking on the performance, Comptroller Ariyibi said:
“The impressive performance recorded during the second quarter of 2026 reflects the Command’s unwavering commitment to trade facilitation, stakeholder engagement, compliance enforcement, and the implementation of Federal Government policies aimed at boosting non-oil exports.

“The Lilypond Export Command remains resolute in its mandate to facilitate legitimate exports, improve operational efficiency, and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth through increased non-oil export activities.”

He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the Customs management team for their visionary leadership and continuous support.

The Area Controller also commended exporters, licensed customs agents, partner government agencies and other stakeholders for their cooperation, noting that their collaboration was instrumental to the Command’s strong second-quarter performance.

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