Customs Meets 49.2% of N11tn Revenue Target for 2026 in Eight Months

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N5.41 trillion in revenue between January and August 31, 2026, representing about 49.2 per cent of the N11 trillion revenue target for 2026, with four months left in the year.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed the numbers during his inaugural board meeting and facility tour of the Customs headquarters in Abuja recently.

He commended the leadership and officers of the service for their progress in modernising operations, facilitating trade and boosting government revenue.

Mr Oyedele said the NCS generated N4.03 trillion in the first half of 2026, while a further N1.38 trillion was recorded in July and August.

He said the performance demonstrated the Customs’ growing operational strength and placed it firmly on track to meet its ambitious N11 trillion annual revenue target.

According to him, the improved revenue performance was driven by aggressive automation, intelligence-led reforms and enhanced cargo processing strategies under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi.

Beyond revenue generation, the minister commended the NCS for its strategic investments in technology and ongoing reforms to facilitate trade.

Impressed by the Service’s modern intelligence tools and technological infrastructure, Mr Oyedele said the Customs’ performance provided a strong foundation for Nigeria to assume a leading position in regional and global trade.

He said the Service’s achievements should now be leveraged to establish world-class standards in port efficiency, end-to-end transparency, faster cargo clearance timelines and revenue integrity.

“Results are precisely what should propel us to do more,” the Minister stated, noting that Customs’ strong foundation equips the Service to pioneer world-class standards in port efficiency, end-to-end transparency, faster cargo clearance timelines, and revenue integrity. “Nigeria must lead through performance, not rhetoric,” Mr Oyedele added.

The Minister further reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s support for the NCS, assuring that the federal government would continue to provide cutting-edge technology, modern operational tools and policy support to sustain the Service’s growth and strengthen its position as a premier trade facilitator in Africa.