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Customs

 Freight expert tasks customs on eliminating human contacts in its operations to curb corruption

Dr. Segun Musa

—commends CGC Adeniyi for improved customs operations 

Funso OLOJO 
Dr. Segun Musa, the Deputy National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders(NAGAFF), has urged the management of the Nigeria Customs Service to eliminate human contacts in its operations to minimize corruption in the cargo delivery system at the ports.
Musa, who was a guest at the roundtable conference organized by the Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria(MARAN), claimed that 50 percent of Nigeria’s corruption emanates from the ports.
The NAGAFF chieftain believed that if the customs adopts full automation of its operations, it will not only facilitate legitimate trade but reduces corruption in the clearance system to a minimum.
The freight forwarder cum politician who once contested for the governorship election in Lagos State, however, commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for his transformational leadership which he confessed has greatly improved the operations of the agency.
” There is an improvement in the operations of the customs under the present leadership of Wale Adeniyi but there is still room for more improvement” he declared.
He believed the agency has greatly improved in the area of technology.
” Before now, when Customs officers wanted to access their system, they used their passwords.
” But now, they do that through their thumbprints
” This will make it difficult for any other person to gain access to their system or steal their passwords, even passwords alone cannot gain access to the system except through their thumbprints” he noted.
The NAGAFF chief however appealed to the customs management to grant clearing agents similar privilege that will allow them to use their thumbprints to enter their entries into their system.
He said he made this call to reduce the high incidence of sending innocent customs brokers to jail for offences they did not commit.
“A lot of agents have gone to jail for offences they did not commit but which somebody who fraudulently used their licenses to perpetrate the illicit acts.
“If we are made to be using our thumbprints to access customs portal to lodge our entries just like customs officers do access their NICSII platform, fraudulent people will not be able to use our license to do illegal business” he noted.
He urged the customs authority to fully automate its operations unlike what he described as semi-automation that presently obtains.
According to him, with full automation, there would be no need for agents to physically interact with officers as it is presently done.
” Customs operations should be fully automated to eliminate human contacts.
“We, as customs agents, do not want to interface with customs officers again.
” Yes, Customs say we are corrupt. We have accepted that we are corrupt.
“But we do not want to be corrupt again.
” We want to be as saint as the customs officers so we do not want to interface with them again.
“Let us be relating with them virtually, online” Musa insisted.
To further eliminate corruption and human contacts with customs officers, the freight forwarder cum politician wanted the customs to assign codes to their documents so that officers processing such documents will not have access to the owners.
” Also, the name of the company must not be on the license. It should be a code.
” Let every company have a code. This will make it impossible for the officer treating a particular job to interface with the owner.
” Let’s make it difficult for such an officer to identify the owner of the document”
” This will eliminate interaction and familiarity between the customs officers and owners of the license which often leads to compromise and extortion.
He claimed that through such an unholy alliance between the customs officers and importers, clearing agents have often lost the services of their clients who abandoned them after such interactions with the officers.
The NAGAFF chief also advised the customs management to always give a timeline for a document to spend with an officer.
” When the entry gets to the table of an officer, it must be timed and be given a timeline which an entry must spend with the officer with the caveat that if he doesn’t process the document or query it, as the case may be, say in five minutes, such an officer will be queried. This is how to facilitate trade.
” As an importer or clearing agent, I don’t need to go to the customs or terminal operators or shipping companies to get my job out”
” Gone were the days. The world has moved beyond that stage and we cannot continue to be living in the past.
” Our counterparts in other African countries have gone far ahead of Nigeria in terms of trade facilitation.
” We do not want to know customs officers and they too should not know us as freight forwarders to do our job.
” My job must not be treated because I know the CGC or the CAC. My document must be treated on merit, with no preferential treatment.
” Let everyone be treated equally, after all, we the agents charge our clients agency fees” he asserted.
Musa said that the only way legitimate trade could be facilitated is when the customs, shipping companies and terminal operators fully automate their operations and reduce human contact.
” If corruption in the ports, which accounts for about 50 percent of corruption in the country, is reduced to a bearest minimum, the prices of goods in the market will be cheaper.
” People have often claimed that the cost of doing business at the  Nigerian Ports is very expensive. Why is this so?
” Because we are still operating an analogy system in a highly automated world.
” By the time we migrate into full automated system, prices of commodities in the markets will be cheaper .”
” This is because I don’t have to bribe customs officers to treat my document, I don’t have to pay higher storage or demurrage charges to exit my goods from the port.
” My shipment will not get to its expiry date before I get it out. That is what we call trade facilitation”
” If the customs officer queries your job, get about 6 months bond and argue the matter.
” If the customs has a superior argument for the query, you as the importer or his agent will pay the DN and the accumulated charges.
” But if you, as an agent, have a superior argument and win the case and they did not allow you to provide a bond and your shipment gets stuck at the port, accumulating demurrage, the officer who issued the query should be queried and made to pay any accumulated charges, including paying the inconveniences of the agent.
” This will serve as a deterrent to other officers who deliberately delay the processing of documents to frustrate agents who are forced to compromise” the NAGAFF chieftain observed.
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Customs

Customs collects N1.585 trillion from 51 compliant traders under AEO programme 

Funso OLOJO,  Editor 
The Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), one of the trade facilitation tools introduced by the Nigeria Customs Service in 2025, has begun to yield bountiful harvests with the revenue growth of ₦362.79 billion recorded in 2025.
According to the AEO scorecard released by the Service, the facilitation tool grossed the sum of N1.585 trillion after certification, an increase revenue from N1.222 trillion before certification.
This represents the growth of N362.79 billion(29.68 per cent) for 51 AEO – certified entities as at October, 2025.
The Programme, according to the NCS,  also contributed 21.77% to its total revenue collection of ₦7.281 trillion in 2025, while customs duties paid rose by 85.66% due to enhanced compliance and increased volumes of legitimate trade.
According to AEO Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Report, the Programme achieved an average compliance rate of 85.45 per cent with the highest at 100 per cent and the lowest at 60 per cent.
“The evaluation applied rigorous methodologies to ensure objectivity, transparency, and alignment with the World Customs Organisation (WCO) SAFE Framework of Standards and the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
“In the area of trade facilitation, AEO participation reduced average cargo clearance time from 168 hours to 41 hours, representing a 75.60% time saving.
“Company operating costs declined by 57.2 per cent while demurrage payments dropped by 90 per cent, limiting capital flight to foreign-owned port service providers and strengthening foreign exchange retention.
” Overall trade efficiency improved by 77.11 per  through digitalisation, simplified procedures, and targeted risk management” the Customs declared in the AEO scorecard.
However, the Service singled out with Eight companies for commendation due to their integrity and compliance under the programme.
The companies include Coleman Technical Industries Limited, WACOT Rice Limited, ROMSON Oil Field Services Ltd, WACOT Limited, Chi Farms Ltd, CORMART Nigeria Ltd, PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.
The Service lauded them for a cumulative voluntary remittance of over a billion naira into the Federation Account following their self-initiated transaction review and disclosure.
“These actions reflect the strengthening of post-clearance audit mechanisms and a growing culture of voluntary compliance within the trading community.
Nevertheless, the Service suspended a firm under the programme for its non- compliance and display of lack of integrity.
The suspended firm engaged in false declaration of consignments contrary to programme obligations.
“Consequently, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, directed the immediate suspension of the company’s AEO status in accordance with the AEO Guidelines, the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, and Section 112 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The NCS reiterated that the AEO Programme is founded on trust, transparency, and continuous compliance.
“While compliant operators will continue to benefit from expedited clearance and reduced inspection, appropriate sanctions will be applied where violations are established.
“The Service remains resolute in safeguarding national revenue, facilitating legitimate trade, and preserving the integrity and global credibility of Nigeria’s AEO framework” the NCS concluded in the report.
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Customs

Customs takes delivery, commissions 60- bed hospital donated by BUA Group in Bauchi

Gloria Odion, Maritime Reporter 
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, officially commissioned the Abdul Samad Rabiu / Nigeria Customs Service Hospital in Bauchi, a 60-bed healthcare facility constructed and donated by Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of ASR Africa and Founder/Executive Chairman of BUA Group.
The hospital, delivered through the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, is expected to significantly expand healthcare access for Customs officers, their families and host communities across Zone ‘D’ and neighbouring states.
Describing the project as a strategic welfare investment, the CGC said the facility reflects the Service’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity through improved personnel wellbeing.
 “This commissioning is a clear statement that the NCS prioritises the health and welfare of its officers,” he stated.
“A modern Service requires not only technology and operational reforms, but also strong social infrastructure that supports those who serve.”
In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh, emphasised the intervention’s sustainability focus.
“ASR Africa is committed to impact-driven philanthropy,” he said. “Our partnership with the NCS demonstrates what can be achieved when private sector commitment aligns with institutional reform and clear developmental goals.”
Also delivering a message on behalf of the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, the Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Hammayo, described the commissioning as a boost to the state’s healthcare ecosystem.
“This facility will complement existing public health institutions and improve access to specialised services,” he said.
 “It reflects the value of collaboration between government and responsible corporate entities.”
The hospital’s commissioning marks the culmination of a phased transformation that began in 2008 with the establishment of a basic health post at the Zone ‘D’ Headquarters, Bauchi.
It was subsequently upgraded to a clinic, and later a medical centre, before a 2023 partnership between the NCS and ASR Africa converted it into a 30-bed hospital, completed in April 2025.
Following a needs assessment, the CGC approved the remodelling and expansion of the facility into a 60-bed secondary healthcare facility with selected tertiary services.
Now equipped with seven clinical departments: Nursing Services, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pediatrics, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pharmacy and Medical Laboratory, alongside Administrative and Health Information Management units, as well as Dental, Radiology and Nutrition units.
The hospital is projected to manage up to 300 patients per month during its first operational year.
Long-term expansion plans include advanced diagnostics such as CT scans and MRI, as well as specialised surgical procedures, positioning the facility as a referral centre across the North-East and parts of North-Central Nigeria.
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Customs

Ahead of Customs’ paperless operations in June, Comptroller Onyeka declares Tin Can Customs trade enabler

Funso OLOJO, Editor 
Barely few days after the Comptroller- General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced that the Customs will migrate to paperless operations in June, 2026, the Tin Can command of the Service has made an elaborate preparation to key into the digital platform.
Even though, the Customs High Command is yet to release the blue print for the take -off of the digital revolution in goods clearance, the Controller of Tin Can Customs, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, has declared that his command is ready to hit the ground running.
To this end, Comptroller Onyeka has declared Tin Can Island Customs as a trade enabler where seamless operations will be the order of the day.
While speaking with the maritime media on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026, Onyeka stated that as long as an importer or his agent makes an honest declaration and the consignment is not flagged, such goods will leave the customs control within the 48 hours clearance time being envisaged by the Customs under its paperless operations regime.
Comptroller Onyeka further disclosed that his command will aim at collecting collectable revenue instead of maximum revenue which often leaves no room for trader to handle logistics costs and other sundry charges.
“By focusing on collectable revenue, we ensure that the trader makes profit, return to the market and continues to contribute to the society.
“I want to be known as a trade enabler personified” Comptroller Onyeka enthused.
While making projection into the year 2026, the Customs chief said the command recorded a lot of positives in 2025 when it surpassed the revenue target for that year and when a record revenue collection of 26 billion was recorded in a single day, a feat that was unprecedented in the history of the command.
Onyeka said the command started the year 2026 on a good revenue trajectory with the collection of  N145. 9bn in January, representing a 25.3 percent increase when compared to the N116.4billon  collected in January 2025.
He acknowledged the support of the media for its “constructive reportage” which acted as a catalyst for the good performance of the command in 2025.
While soliciting for the continued support of journalists in 2026, Comptroller Onyeka said his officers have been well primed to confront the challenges ahead.
He dismissed the fears of possible network glitches which stakeholders expressed may hamper the success of the paperless operations, saying such eventuality will be surmounted just as the teething problems which plagued B’ Odogwu platform at take off were conquered.
“Despite the teething problems with B’Odogwu,  we have recorded tremendous success, so we are ready for the paperless operations.
“There could be network issues but I want to urge the trading public to build capacity.
“With that, you can complete container clearance entirely online, with no physical contact with customs officers.
“If your declaration is not flagged, the process will be seamless, there will be no reason to come and see anyone.
“We cannot guarantee a perfect system from day one, but those challenges will not stop us.
” The more traders declare correctly and honestly, the smoother this process becomes for everyone,” he declared while advising importers to palletise their consignments.
It could be recalled that while launching the Customs’ One- Stop- Shop(OSS) on Friday, February 13th, 2026, the Comptroller- General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the Service is advancing toward a fully paperless customs environment, with the first phase of digital clearance and documentation processes scheduled for rollout by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
“This platform is a deliberate shift from fragmented interventions to coordinated governance, from discretion to data, and from isolated actions to collective responsibility,” Adeniyi had declared.
 “Through this reform, we continue to build systems that support lawful trade, protect national interests and serve the economy with professionalism and integrity.” he concluded.
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