Customs generates N1.4trn in two months, records N8.1bn seizures

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N1.4trn in revenue in September and October 2026, while intercepting prohibited and restricted goods with a duty-paid value exceeding N8.1bn.

The service collected N697bn in September and N722bn in October, according to its National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada.

Maiwada disclosed the figures on Sunday in a statement following a joint security press briefing held last week at the National Counter-Terrorism Centre under the Office of the National Security Adviser.

He said the revenue performance reflected the service’s efforts to improve trade facilitation, streamline cargo clearance and strengthen revenue generation through digital interventions and collaboration with stakeholders.

The NCS also processed 9,195 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAARs) and 99,839 Single Goods Declarations (SGDs) during the two-month period.

A breakdown showed that 2,102 PAARs were processed in September and 7,093 in October, while the number of SGDs rose from 48,832 in September to 51,007 in October.

Maiwada said the service also recorded progress in export trade facilitation, particularly at the Lilypond Export Command.

He said the command recorded export activities in the third quarter of 2026, with an export value of 586 million cited in the statement.

The Customs spokesman, however, did not provide further details on the currency or the comparative figures for the period.

On enforcement, Maiwada said the service intercepted prohibited and restricted items, including illicit drugs, pharmaceutical products, prohibited goods and petroleum products, with a combined duty-paid value of more than N8.1bn.

He added that the NCS continued to work with relevant regulatory and security agencies to ensure the proper handling and disposition of seized items.

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The service also highlighted its efforts to combat money laundering and terrorism financing through a World Customs Organisation Mentoring Mission inaugurated in October.

According to Maiwada, the four-week mission, scheduled to run from October 18 to November 13, 2026, is aimed at strengthening the capacity of Customs officers to identify, investigate and tackle trade-based money laundering and other illicit financial activities linked to cross-border trade.

As part of the programme, the service held engagements with six agencies between October 27 and 29, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit and National Counter-Terrorism Centre.

Maiwada further disclosed that the NCS had transitioned to an electronic currency declaration platform to improve transparency, strengthen monitoring and enhance the detection of illicit financial flows across Nigeria’s borders.