The Federal Government has challenged the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS to convert its record revenue performance and technology investments into measurable improvements in cargo clearance, port efficiency and the ease of doing business.
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, gave the charge on September 2, 2026, during his inaugural board meeting and facility tour at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, where he commended the Service for its performance and reforms under Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi.
Oyedele said the NCS had collected N4.03 trillion in the first six months of 2026 and another N1.38 trillion in July and August, putting the Service on course toward its N11 trillion revenue target for the year.
He said the figures were evidence of stronger Customs operations but argued that the gains should now translate into a more efficient trading environment for businesses and faster movement of legitimate cargo through Nigerian ports.
According to him, the Service’s investments in automation, intelligence systems and digital processes provide an opportunity for Nigeria to establish higher standards for trade facilitation in Africa and compete more effectively in the global trading system.
“Results are precisely what should propel us to do more,” Oyedele said.
The Minister said Customs should use its current momentum to pursue world-class standards in port efficiency, end-to-end transparency, cargo clearance timelines and revenue integrity.
He stressed that Nigeria’s competitiveness in international trade would depend not only on the revenue generated at the border but also on how quickly and transparently businesses could move goods through the country’s ports.
“Nigeria must lead through performance, not rhetoric,” he said.
Oyedele’s comments place greater emphasis on the next phase of the Customs reforms, as the Service seeks to balance its revenue mandate with its responsibility to facilitate legitimate trade and reduce delays and inefficiencies in the movement of goods.
He also reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s support for the Service, saying the Federal Government would continue to provide the NCS with modern technology, operational tools and policy backing to sustain its reforms.
The Minister said the objective was to strengthen Customs as a premier trade facilitator in Africa while ensuring that improvements in technology and operational efficiency deliver tangible benefits to government revenue, businesses and the wider economy.