Customs Backs Nigeria’s $1tn Economy Target

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has pledged the Service’s full support for Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy, stressing the importance of turning government policies and national aspirations into measurable economic outcomes.

Adeniyi made the commitment, while delivering a keynote address at the New Nigeria Festival held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Conference Hall in Abuja.

The Customs chief said the $1 trillion target was achievable if government strategies were effectively implemented and institutions remained focused on delivering tangible results. He emphasised that national development goals require coordinated action across public institutions rather than remaining at the level of policy declarations.

The commitment comes as the Nigeria Customs Service continues to position trade facilitation, revenue mobilisation, border management and digital transformation as key components of its contribution to economic growth.

Customs has recorded significant revenue gains in recent years. In the first quarter of 2025, the Service reported revenue collection of about ₦1.75 trillion, exceeding its quarterly benchmark by ₦106.5 billion. The figure represented a 29.96% increase compared with the corresponding period in 2024.

The Service has also pursued reforms designed to make international trade more efficient. Its Authorised Economic Operator programme, for instance, has been presented as a mechanism for reducing cargo-clearance delays, lowering business costs and encouraging greater compliance among legitimate traders. The programme has been linked to improvements in trade volumes and Customs revenue from participating companies.

Another major area of reform is the digitalisation of Customs operations through the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System. The broader modernisation programme is intended to improve transparency, automate processes and strengthen revenue collection while reducing bottlenecks confronting importers and exporters.

The Customs Service has also been involved in efforts to support Nigeria’s trade competitiveness through initiatives connected to the National Single Window and other trade-facilitation reforms. These measures are particularly important as Nigeria seeks to increase non-oil exports, attract investment and strengthen its participation in regional and global trade.

Adeniyi’s pledge therefore places Customs within the wider institutional effort to translate Nigeria’s economic ambitions into practical results. However, achieving a $1 trillion economy will require sustained progress across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, energy, technology, exports and investment.

For Customs, the challenge will be to maintain revenue performance while ensuring that enforcement does not unnecessarily obstruct legitimate commerce. Greater efficiency at Nigeria’s ports and borders, alongside predictable trade procedures and effective anti-smuggling measures, will remain critical to achieving that balance.

The $1 trillion ambition is ultimately dependent on the capacity of institutions to deliver measurable improvements in productivity, investment and trade. Customs’ latest commitment signals its intention to play a central role in that process.

Nigeria Customs Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi pledges full NCS support for Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy ambition through trade reforms, revenue mobilisation and digitalisation.