Customs

Freight forwarders grieve over N12 trillion Customs revenue target for 2025.

–— lament target projection will kill trade facilitation, encourage smuggling, run agents out of business

Funso OLOJO

An air of melancholy has enveloped a cross section of freight forwarders who are plying their trade at the Lagos ports over the N12 trillion revenue target imposed on the Nigeria customs service by the National Assembly.

It could be recalled that recently, while presenting the 2024 performance of the agency, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, had announced an impressive revenue haul of N6.105 trillion by the service in 2024, surpassing that year’s target of N5 .079 trillion by 20 percent.

Consequent on this, the service set N6.5 trillion as revenue target for 2025.

However, the National Assembly Joint committee on Customs thought differently.

Led by its Chairmen, Senator Sani Musa and James Faleke, the committee believed that the revenue projection of N6.5 trillion was conservative and encouraged the Customs to aim higher by generating a whooping sum of N12 trillion in 2025.

However, a cross section of freight forwarders who spoke to our reporter were alarmed by the humongous revenue target which they believed was not only unrealistic under the present sluggish Nigerian economy but said the target was a recipe for disaster.

In their unanimous opinions, the 12 trillion imposed on the customs by the National Assembly Joint committee will kill trade facilitation, run customs brokers out of business,scare away importers from Nigerian ports and create irresistible incentives for smuggling.

Alhaji Mukaila Abdullaziz, the former Secretary General of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA) decried the new revenue target which he believed was an ” open cheque for Customs to kill trade facilitation and go for maximum revenue” believing that smuggling will thrive as a lot of importers will be pressured by customs into resulting to the illicit trade.

” As a stakeholder, I do know that the issue of revenue and trade facilitation is the decision of each country. Each country determines what it really wants.

” It is very obvious that Nigerian government has shown that trade facilitation is not part of its programme.

” By fixing high revenue target, the government has clearly given a blanket cheque to Customs to kill trade facilitation and go for maximum revenue collection even when global trade stipulates that you don’t resort to the rule of the thumb to determine value of foods”

Alhaji Baba Usman, the Managing Director of Lungu Nigeria Limited and

a Customs broker who plies his trade in Tin Can Island Port believed the high revenue target is a way to send many freight forwarders out of business.

“What they did is a way to send everyone of us(freight forwarders) out of the market( business) because the rate of importation is very low, so where will customs get that kind of money?

” The duty they( customs) are imposing on the importers and their agents is too much.

” How can a 40 footer container be paying between 18 million to 10 million?

” They don’t even know what they are doing because they don’t want importers to import again and they don’t want agents to do their job.

“Again, as far as I am concerned, it is also the fault of the Customs because they will go to the Presidency and National Assembly and brag that they can collect so much revenue and this will automatically put pressure on the importers” the freight forwarder lamented.

Alhaji Usman however advised importers to mobilize themselves through their association and go to the National Assembly and the Ministry of Finance to complain about this high revenue target and let them realize how it will adversely affect import trade.

Otunba Olasupo Komolafe, another frontline freight forwarder and the Managing Director of Alkos Star Nigeria Limited also based in Tin Can Island Port, believed that Customs has the capacity to meet the N12 trillion revenue target only if the customs exchange rate comes down.

” But with the present Customs duty exchange rate of about N1, 541 or thereabout to a dollar, where will Customs get that amount of revenue from?

Otunba Komolafe noted that the high exchange rate has depressed the import business as fewer cargos are now coming in .

” But if the Central Bank of Nigeria( CBN) brings down the rate to, say, N1,000 to a dollar, I assure you that Customs will meet that target because importers will bring in high volume of cargo.

” But presently, because of the high exchange rate, an importer who used to bring in 10 containers has now reduced the numbers to three” the freight forwarder claimed.

Dr Segun Musa, the Vice President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders( NAGAFF) believed that the high revenue target set by the National Assembly for the Customs was a sad reflection of the poor perception of Nigerian leaders about the Nigerian economy.

He noted that developed economies do not lay much emphasis on revenue from imports to fix their economy more than internally generated revenue, saying high revenue from imports is a sign of sinking economy.

” The target is ridiculous. It is the developing economies that use such target as a barometer to measure revenue.

“No advanced economy will think of import duty target.It is ridiculous.

” Giving such ridiculous revenue target is an indication that government is lazy and cannot think outside the box by creating economy that could be sustained with internally generated revenue.

” By implication, they are going to further kill the economy because it means the economy is based on importation which does not encourage production,

manufacturing.

” By giving customs this high revenue target, the government is asking the Customs to frustrate exportation and create more opportunities for revenue from importation.

” There is no economy desirous of growth that still depends on import duty.

“Any economy that wants to grow depends on internally- generated revenue through production, manufacturing.

” In a civilized country, if government declares high revenue from import duty, the citizens will burst into tears because that suggests that the economy has nose- dived.

“By realizing N6 .5 trillion by customs in 2024, it suggested that our economy has nose- dived.

” Now they want to generate N12 trillion, that means they want to kill the economy.

” It shows those who are managing our economy lacks the requisite knowledge.

” It is also obvious that people in the National Assembly don’t know what they are doing.

” They are there looking for free money to finance the economy.

” Who told them that internally -generated revenue cannot finance our budget if they are able to build capacity”

Dr Musa alleged that 40 percent of Customs revenue are collected illegally just to meet its target.

” If I want to be proved wrong, let us post- audit what the Customs has so far collected.

” Most of the value of the goods from where this revenue are being collected are value based on window – shopping prices.

The NAGAFF Chieftain alleged that Customs will just go on Internet and get window prices and fix it on all the commodity just to jack up their revenue which is illegal.

” It is criminal to use Internet value to declare revenue for government”, he alleged.

“Am just wondering if this revenue target is sustainable when the economy has nosed dive and our naira heavily devalued, where would importers get money to import and without high level of importation, where will the customs generate the revenue target” the NAGAFF Chieftain queried.

” The only way which customs can come close to meeting the target is through penalties because I know they are going to clamp various frivolous penalties on importers and their agents which I believe is unreasonable” he concluded.

Dr Boniface Aniebonam, the Founder of NAGAFF, was more concerned with transparency of customs in the value they give the goods than the 12 trillion revenue target.

” It is not about Customs having capacity to generate that volume of revenue but the issue is to what extent can people transacting business with customs could be compliant with import and export regulations?

” There is no magic about customs procedures. Under destination inspection, you are expected to make a genuine declaration for customs purposes.

” In that regard,the customs has the mandate to check your declaration and confirm whether it is appropriate or not.

” If it is ok, they will allow you to go , if not, they would address it.

” I think the only problem we are having with customs as a matter of fact is the issue of transparency.

“What I mean is that these values by Customs, which are subjective, must be make public so that the trading public will know.

“For instance, as regards vehicles, the problem has died down there because the valuation has make it known to importers and their agents what to pay.

” As regards the revenue target given to customs, I want you to know that government needs a lot of money to meet up their mandate in terms of infrastructural development.

” Even when there seems to be argument between the importers and the customs on the real amount to pay on a cargo, the customs has a procedure that will not delay the cargo while the argument goes on.

” This is by the process whereby the customs asks you to enter into a bank bond while the argument continues and the cargo will be asked to go.

” For me, am not bothered about the issue of revenue target, it is a budgetary matter.

” It is a working tool by which government drives the economy.

” But what we should be concerned about, as I said earlier, is to what extent will the importer and his agent be compliant with customs regulations.

” People should also know that Customs cannot facilitate illegitimate trade if the owner of the goods is not compliant with customs regulations” Aniebonam said.

He stated that Customs has the mandate to facilitate trade and there is a consequence for impeding trade but said government will not get the revenue due for it if people don’t come forward with their cargo.

He reiterated his stand that nobody should bother himself with the issue of revenue target as customs is doing its best to encourage trade.

Customs

Customs PR officers dominate NCCSC graduation, clinch overall best honours

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter

The Public Relations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a rare academic feat as two of its officers emerged the top graduating students at the Nigeria Customs Service Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada.

At the graduation ceremony for Senior Course 14 held on Friday,June 26th, 2026, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Ridwan Yusuf was named the Overall Best Graduating Student, capping an outstanding performance by winning three additional awards.

His colleague, CSC Nuruddeen Sa’idu, was named the Second Best Graduating Student, completing a remarkable sweep by officers from the Service’s Public Relations Unit.

The double honour highlights the intellectual depth, leadership capacity and professionalism within the Customs Public Relations Unit, demonstrating that its officers excel not only in strategic communication but also in administration, operational management and policy leadership.

Beyond the accolades, the achievement is expected to open another chapter in their careers, as both officers may be retained by the College as Directing Staff, in keeping with the institution’s tradition of engaging its highest-performing graduates to mentor future participants.

If confirmed, the appointments would recognise their exceptional academic and professional abilities while entrusting them with the responsibility of shaping the next generation of Customs leaders, although their absence would be keenly felt within the Public Relations Unit.

The Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Unit congratulated both officers on their outstanding accomplishments and wished them continued success as they assume greater responsibilities in service to the nation.

Customs

Retirement gale sweeps through Customs as Olomu,Bomodi,Oladeji,Adeola,Adebakin, Niagwan among 1,516 officers set to exit service

Funso OLOJO, Editor

A massive retirement wave is set to rip through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with no fewer than 1,516 officers — including several top-ranking officers — pencilled down to leave the Service in 2026 and 2027 in what appears to be one of the largest personnel exits in the agency’s recent history.

The impending retirement storm, which cuts across virtually all cadres of the Service, will see officers from the rank of Deputy Comptroller-General down to Customs Assistant II bow out under statutory retirement provisions, leaving a major vacuum in the upper and middle ranks of the paramilitary agency.

Documents obtained by TheEyewitnessnews show that 825 officers are scheduled to retire in 2026, while another 691 are expected to leave in 2027, bringing the total number of exits within the two-year period to 1,516.

The retirement notices are contained in two restricted circulars issued by the Human Resources and Development Department of the Service and signed by the Comptroller, Establishment, A.A. Bazuaye, on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resources and Development.
The first circular, No. HRD/2025/048 dated September 19, 2025, contains what the Service described as the final list of 825 officers billed to retire in 2026.

A breakdown of the 2026 list shows that the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre accounts for the highest number of exits with 285 officers, followed by the Superintendent of Customs cadre with 226 officers.

Other cadres affected in the 2026 retirement exercise are Assistant Superintendent of Customs I with 64 officers; Chief Customs Officer, 53; Deputy Customs Officer, 51; Assistant Customs Officer, 46; Chief Superintendent of Customs, 61; Inspector of Customs, eight; Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, 10; Customs Assistant I, one; Customs Assistant II, two; Assistant Comptroller-General, 13; and Deputy Comptroller-General, five.

A second circular, No. HRD/2026/020 dated May 26, 2026, forwarded a draft list of 691 officers due for statutory retirement in 2027.

The 2027 retirement schedule shows that the Superintendent of Customs cadre will record the highest number of exits with 200 officers, followed by the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre with 193 officers.

Others on the 2027 list are Deputy Customs Officer, 81; Chief Superintendent of Customs, 68; Assistant Customs Officer, 57; Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, 39; Chief Customs Officer, 38; Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, four; Customs Assistant I, four; Customs Assistant II, four; Inspector of Customs, two; and Assistant Comptroller-General, four.

Both circulars directed all affected officers to proceed on mandatory pre-retirement leave in line with Public Service Rule 100238 and Federal Government Circular No. 63216/S.1/X/T; CR 1/2001/5 of March 20, 2001.

The directive stated that all officers due for retirement must disengage from active service and proceed on three months’ pre-retirement leave ahead of their effective retirement dates, while also forwarding their three-month pre-retirement notices to the Comptroller-General of Customs.

Among the senior officers affected in the 2026 retirement exercise are Deputy Comptrollers-General Omale (SVC No. 41148), who retired on June 7, 2026; Nnadi (SVC No. 43193), whose retirement took effect on March 3, 2026; Chiroma (SVC No. 42988), who is due to retire on September 23, 2026; and Adeola MRS (SVC No. 42972) and Niagwan (SVC No. 41524), both scheduled to retire on December 23, 2026.

Among the Assistant Comptrollers-General on the 2026 retirement list are Egwuh (SVC No. 38991), who retired on March 14, 2026; Umoh (SVC No. 41351), who exited the Service on February 2, 2026; Mohammed (SVC Nos. 41394 and 41395), both due to retire on June 24, 2026; and Abe (SVC No. 41110), whose retirement date is August 21, 2026.

Others listed for retirement include Olomu (SVC No. 41145), Olaniyan (SVC No. 41197), Yusuf (SVC No. 41257), Oladeji (SVC No. 41308) and Gaji (SVC No. 41328), all scheduled to retire on September 24, 2026.
Also on the list are Adebakin (SVC No. 41670) and Bomodi (SVC No. 42758), both due for retirement on September 23, 2026, as well as Nyam (SVC No. 40428) and Abubakar (SVC No. 40139), whose retirement dates are October 1, 2026, among others.

In the 2027 circular, the Service opened a window for complaints and corrections, directing that any observed error, omission or legitimate complaint arising from the attached retirement list should be forwarded to the office of the Deputy Comptroller-General, Human Resources and Development, on or before July 31, 2026.

To ensure the notices get to all affected officers, Zonal Coordinators, Area Controllers and Unit Heads were directed to circulate the retirement lists across commands and formations.

But beyond the raw figures, the sweeping retirement exercise has exposed a deeper structural imbalance in the Service.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Abejide Leke Joseph, traced the development to a prolonged recruitment gap and years of promotion stagnation in the Nigeria Customs Service.

According to him, a 16-year period of non-recruitment created an unusual personnel bulge, as officers within the 41000, 42000 and 43000 service number brackets rose through the ranks almost at the same pace and now find themselves hitting retirement age or service limits within the same window.

The result, he explained, is a top-heavy structure in which a large number of officers now occupy similar seniority levels and are due to leave almost simultaneously.
Abejide said the retirement of more than 1,500 officers should not be misconstrued as part of any succession plot within the Customs hierarchy, insisting that the exercise is a routine and legally mandated process under Public Service Rule 100238.

The development is coming against the backdrop of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a final six-month tenure extension for the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, effectively keeping him in office until February 2027.
The Presidency announced on Friday that Adeniyi’s tenure, earlier scheduled to expire on August 1, 2026, had been extended by another six months to enable him complete key reforms in the Service.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the extension would allow the Customs boss to consolidate the implementation of the National Single Window project and also ensure an orderly succession process in the Service.

More significantly, the statement made it clear that Adeniyi would work with the Nigeria Customs Service Board during the transition period to oversee critical personnel decisions, including the promotion of eligible officers to the rank of Comptroller and the compulsory retirement of officers who have attained 60 years of age or put in 35 years in service.

That presidential directive effectively places Adeniyi at the centre of one of the most consequential personnel transitions in the recent history of the Nigeria Customs Service — a transition that will shape not only the next generation of Customs leadership, but also the internal balance of power within the Service.

Customs

Excitement as President Tinubu Extends CGC Adeniyi’s Tenure by Six Months

Funso OLOJO, Editor

A wave of excitement swept through the maritime industry following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a six-month extension of the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi.

In a statement issued on June 19th, 2026, and signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu said the extension was necessary to enable Adeniyi to consolidate ongoing reforms, particularly the implementation of the National Single Window project, while also ensuring an orderly succession process within the service.

According to the Presidency, Adeniyi’s current tenure was due to expire on August 1st, 2026.

The six-month extension will now keep him in office until February 2027.

During the transition period, Adeniyi is expected to work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service Board to oversee the promotion of qualified officers to the rank of Comptroller of Customs and facilitate the compulsory retirement of officers who have attained the statutory retirement age of 60 years or completed 35 years in service.

Adeniyi joined the Nigeria Customs Service after graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University in the late 1980s.

He steadily rose through the ranks, becoming a Deputy Comptroller in 2012, Comptroller in 2017, Assistant Comptroller-General in 2020, and Acting Deputy Comptroller-General in January 2023 before being appointed Comptroller-General by President Tinubu in June 2023.

Maritime stakeholders who welcomed the development described the extension as an opportunity for the Customs boss to complete the far-reaching reforms he initiated within the service.

One freight forwarder, who preferred anonymity, described the decision as a positive development.

“This is a welcome development because it will enable the Comptroller-General to complete the reforms he has started in the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.

“His tenure has been a watershed in the history of the NCS.

“The service has witnessed unprecedented transformation in its operations, revenue generation, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling activities.

“Granting him an extension is a well-thought-out administrative decision by President Tinubu to allow him to complete these achievements.”

Another stakeholder said the extension reflects the confidence of the Presidency in Adeniyi’s leadership.

“The tenure extension is a clear endorsement of Adeniyi’s transformative leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service and the progress recorded under his administration,” the stakeholder remarked.

Industry observers believe the extension will provide continuity for ongoing modernization initiatives and help sustain the momentum of reforms aimed at enhancing trade facilitation, revenue collection, and border security.