It was celebration galore at the Tincan Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), recently when the Command joined other Customs bodies and Administrations, worldwide to mark this year’s International Customs Day.
In fact, the conference hall of the Command was filled to capacity, as stakeholders, importers and their agents, sister Government Agencies, terminal operators and shipping companies joined the Comptroller Frank Onyeka-led Officers and Men of the Command to make the occasion a memorable one.
Also, the presence of the Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, with the headquarters in Lagos, Charles Orbih, an Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG), added colour to the event.
ACG Orbih at that occasion, commended the huge N86 billion revenue generation made by the Command in less than one Month.
He encouraged Officers and Men of the Zone to work in tandem with the theme of the event (International Customs Day), which is “Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security and Prosperity.”
The Zonal Coordinator said that the theme of the event could be seen in the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, which is Collaboration, Consolidation and Innovation.
He said: “The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s policy thrust on Collaboration, Consolidation and Innovation can be seen in the 2025 WCO theme for International Customs Day.”
He commended the TCIP Customs Command for the huge revenue generated in the Month of January, saying they already generated N86 billion as at 10am of January 27, 2025, adding that the figure was higher than N83 billion collected in January 2025.
He asserted that innovation drives efficiency, enhances security and leads to prosperity, which he said, were key aspects of the 2025 International Customs Day.
“Starting from TCIP, Customs have to begin to do things the right way to improve efficiency, national security and revenue generation, which leads to prosperity.
“Today, we recognize the extraordinary contributions of our outstanding officers and stakeholders who have significantly advanced our Service’s mission. People whose inventiveness have enhanced revenue collection, facilitated trade and protected our national economic interests.
“As we commemorate this day, I urge every customs officer to embrace our theme throughout the entire year. Let us demonstrate our commitment through consistent, professional, and innovative service.
“We must promote this theme in every of our interactions, processes and decisions that we make. Our collective actions will determine Nigeria’s economic competitiveness globally and national security,” the Zonal Coordinator said.
He added: “Our mission transcends bureaucratic processes. We are the silent architects of national prosperity, the guardians of economic frontiers, and the bridge between Nigeria and the global marketplace. I greatly appreciate your dedication and support in making the International Customs Day a memorable occasion. I wish you all a wonderful International Customs Day.”
Also, the Area Controller, TCIP Customs, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, disclosed that Tincan Island Command had developed a comprehensive action plan anchored on three pillars: Capacity Building, Enhanced Collaboration and Accountability and Integrity.
“We are investing in the continuous training and professional development of our officers to equip them with the skills needed for 21st-century Customs operations. We are deepening our partnerships with the private sector, other government agencies, and international organizations to foster a unified approach to trade and border management.
“We remain steadfast in our commitment to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability, recognizing that integrity is the foundation for public trust,” Comptroller Onyeka said.
He charged Customs officers at the Command to note that their work had far-reaching implications for the lives of millions nationally and billions continentally, adding that by delivering on commitments to efficiency, security, and prosperity, we are not only fulfilling our mandate but also contributing to a brighter future for the nation and the global economy.
Also, right at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, no doubt capped the occasion with a tremendous ceremony.
Speaking in a remark to mark the event on January 27, the Customs boss said this significant occasion, traditionally observed on January 26th worldwide, provided the Service a vital platform to evaluate the achievements of the preceding year, “reinforce our commitments, and strategically position ourselves for the evolving demands of customs administration across nations.
“That we gather today, on the 27th, highlights the significance of this important celebration despite it falling on a weekend this year.
“The World Customs Organization’s (WCO) theme for 2025, “Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity,” perfectly encapsulates the foundational mandates of the NCS. These core responsibilities – facilitating legitimate trade, securing our national borders, and fostering economic growth – form the bedrock of our operations.
“Our strategic approach harmoniously balances trade facilitation with robust security measures, directly contributing to Nigeria’s economic advancement. The Service’s unprecedented achievement of N6.1 trillion in revenue collection, coupled with significant security interventions, exemplifies our practical commitment to these mandates.
“In pursuit of operational efficiency, the Service has made significant strides in modernizing our processes and procedures. Our commitment to efficiency is evidenced by several key achievements over the years. Notably, the successful implementation of the Advanced Ruling System, providing binding decisions on classification and valuation before shipment arrival, thereby reducing clearance delays and disputes, is one of the resent reference to our efforts to deliver efficiency. Moreover, the remarkable success of our Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program, which has achieved an average release time of 43 hours for certified companies, representing a 66.9% reduction in cargo clearance time is another recent instance.
“Over the years, the Service has modernised its processes to make the trading experience soothing for Nigerians. Late last year, we announced the indigenous development and deployment of our customs clearance platform, ‘B’Odogwu’, which has already processed transactions worth billions in revenue within its pilot phase.
“In terms of security, globally there is increasingly a complex interplay between illicit trade, technological advancement, and transnational criminal networks. In addressing these challenges, the Service like other Customs Administrations, focuses on several critical risk domains identified by the World Customs Organization,” the Customs boss said, adding that they include anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing.
“We maintain vigilance against bulk cash smuggling, trade-based money laundering, and illicit trafficking of high-value commodities.”
Speaking on cultural heritage protection, the CGC said that the Service enforcement efforts safeguard against the illicit trafficking of cultural objects and artifacts, particularly given increasing global concerns about trafficking from conflict zones.
For drug trafficking, he said Customs operatives have intensified response to evolving narcotics threats, particularly, addressing the shift from traditional narcotics to pharmaceutical and synthetic drug abuse.
“In 2024, this resulted in 105 seizures of narcotics and illicit drugs. Our enforcement actions against wildlife trafficking, illegal timber trade, and hazardous waste smuggling saw significant success, with 76 seizures of animal/wildlife products valued at N5.93 billion.
“The Service is also strengthening its technological infrastructure through integration of geo-spatial technology and advanced detection methods, deployment of sophisticated scanning systems at key ports, enhanced intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities; implementation of technology driven risk assessment protocols.’
Adeniyi, averred that the Service demonstrated exceptional fiscal performance in 2024, collecting N6.1 trillion in revenue which exceeded targets by 20.2% and represented a dramatic 90.4% year-over-year increase.
“Our trade facilitation efforts were equally impressive, managing imports valued at N60.29 trillion and exports of N136.65 trillion, while strategically providing N1.68 trillion in concessions to boost economic growth and industrial development across various sectors. These achievements are the highlights of our contribution to national prosperity through both revenue generation and trade facilitation.”
Looking ahead, he said that the strategic vision of NCS aligned seamlessly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s policy direction and global customs best practices, focusing on transformative initiatives that would revolutionize trade facilitation and enforcement.
“The nationwide trade modernization deployment, comprehensive AEO program implementation, enhanced technology-driven risk management, and the groundbreaking establishment of the Nigeria Customs Service University for Trade and Technology will serve as additional key performance indicators as we evaluate our achievements at the end of the year.”
Moving forward, the Customs boss said the Service would continue to rely on the unwavering support of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Olawale Edun, alongside “the dedication of our officers, men, stakeholders, and international partners to achieve and surpass our performance targets. As we commemorate
International Customs Day, we renew our pledge to excellence in customs administration, united in our mission to forge a more secure and prosperous Nigeria through efficient service delivery.”
Ian Sauders, Secretary General, World Customs Organisation(WCO) in a memo he signed on January 26, 2025, said that WCO Member Customs administration celebration of International Customs Day was a chance for them to honour the dedication of their respective staff, educate the public on Customs mission and role, as well as mobilize decision makers who can help ensure that they have the resources required to address challenges collectively and efficiently.
He noted that this year, special focus was being placed on the need to turn commitments into tangible actions that advance trade facilitation, ensure security and foster sustainable economic growth as part of the WCO’s theme for 2025: “ Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security and Prosperity.”
WCO Members, he said are reminded of the direction that had been set at the WCO, and are invited to showcase the actions they have taken to build momentum as well as to share any tangible progress.
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