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Nigerian Senate Queries Customs’ Non-Remittance of Surplus

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Nigeria Customs Service

By Adedapo Adesanya

• NCS Achieves Almost 60% of Targeted Revenue in Five Months

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reached 59.9 percent of its target revenue of N957 billion for the 2020 fiscal year as it announced raking N573 billion between January and May.

But the Senate Committee on Customs raised questions over non-remittance of operation surplus every year by the service.

This followed the announcement made by the Comptroller-General of Customs (CG), Mr Hameed Ali, at an interactive session on revenue generation with the Senate Committee on Customs on Thursday.

Mr Hameed, represented by Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG), Human Resources, Mr Sanusi Umar, said the customs was able to realise more than half of the targeted revenue for the year due to blockage of identified leakages.

“As a result of blocking of identified areas of leakages and free flow of traffic for importers during the COVID-19 lockdown, our revenue generation increased rapidly to about N6 billion to N7 billion per day, making us rake in N573 billion within five months which is more than half of the N957 billion targeted revenues for us in 2020.

“The target given to the service in terms of revenue was N1.6 trillion but due to the COVID-19 pandemic the target was reviewed to N957 billion,” he said.

Mr Ali was, however, taken up by the committee members on non-remittance of surpluses made every year, particularly in 2018 and 2019.

A member of the committee and retired custom officer, Mr Francis Fadahunsi, (PDP – Osun East), queried why the agency did not reflect the surpluses in its reports presented to the committee.

“In 2019 alone, you made surplus of N34 billion, which is not reflected in the 2020 reports before us,” he said.

Another member of the committee, Mr Sulaiman Kwari (APC – Kaduna North), challenged officials of customs to explain what they do with such surpluses.

But the customs representative in his response told the committee that the NCS was not a treasury-sponsored agency that was expected to make returns to the treasury on any amount not spent.

“Customs is now a performance-based agency.

“We are not a treasury-sponsored agency, which normally makes return to the treasury of any amount not spent.

“Where we have any shortfall, we don’t have anybody backing us and we cannot borrow from the bank,” he said.

Members of the Committee led by Mr Francis Alimikhena (APC – Edo North), however, disagreed on whether to revert the targeted revenue for customs in 2020 to N1.6 trillion as earlier passed in December or retain it at N957 billion proposed in the revised budget.

Also, while Mr Gyang Istifanus Dung (PDP – Plateau North), called for upward review of the targeted revenue, but Mr Adamu Aliero (APC – Kebbi Central), disagreed.

According to Mr Aliero, the N957 billion targeted in the revised budget is even not realisable as effects of COVID-19 will start reflecting in the agency’s revenue collection from July.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr Francis Alimikhena, alongside another member Mr Fadahunsi, however, told the Customs officers to sustain the constant high revenues intake the agency recorded within the last five months.

Mr Fadahunsi specifically said that the target was a lazy way of collecting revenues.

“Customs can do more than it has done within the last five months in terms of revenue collections if other ports like Port Harcourt and Calabar are focused like Lagos.

“We cannot continue to approve loan everyday just as government cannot continue to be financing budget with borrowings every year.

“Enough revenues must be generated by relevant agencies like Customs, the very reason this committee invited its top management staff for brainstorming on way out,” he said.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Pastor Ogbueli’s Abuja Night of Glory Holds Today

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Abuja Night of Glory

By Blaise Udunze

Momentum is gathering for the Abuja Night of Glory taking place today, Friday, December 5, 2025, at the main bowl of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.

The crusade is being hosted by Dominion City Church headed by Pastor David Ogbueli and it starts by 7pm.

The all-night programme will feature dynamic worship leaders like Nathanial Bassey, Dunsin Oyekan, Theophilus Sunday, Chioma Jesus, Kaestrings, Sunmisola Agbebi Okeleye, Minister GUC, Ebuka Songs, Anthony Kani, and DC Angels.

Reputed as a teacher of righteousness and anointed minister of the gospel, evidenced by the miracles that have trailed his ministry, and one who champions the cause of the poor through empowerment initiatives, Dr. David Ogbueli will be joined by renowned ministers from within and outside Nigeria, including Evangelist Andres Bisonni, Dr. Charles Ndifon, Evangelist Dan Scott, Apostle Ikechukwu Nnajiofor, and several others.

Night of Glory has, in previous editions held across Nigeria’s cities, recorded remarkable results, such as immediate healings and freedom from chronic ailments, recovery of vision and movement after many years of paralysis, along with liberation from dependencies and emotional distress. Numerous participants have also shared testimonies of breakthroughs and big personal changes after the experience. Organisers state that this year’s event, in Abuja, is anticipated to exceed previous editions.

The event is intended for all individuals trusting God for divine intervention in any area of life.

Understanding the role of faith in the destiny of individuals and nations, a dedicated prayer session for Nigeria will take place during the crusade to tackle some of the current challenges being faced in the country and also to uplift he leaders and institutions before God.

Attendance is free, and registration is encouraged via the QR codes on event banners. Organisers expect a massive turnout as worshippers travel from across the country for what is anticipated to be a transformative encounter.

Adequate security and free transportation have been put in place ALL over the city of Abuja, while those outside Abuja are expected to join online.

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Rivers Speaker, 15 Other Lawmakers Leave PDP for APC

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rivers speaker Martin Amaewhule defect

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr Martin Amaewhule, has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

At the plenary on Friday, Mr Amaewhule joined the ruling party from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with 15 other members of the state parliament.

This development comes some months after they had earlier declared their support for the APC in the wake of a crisis with the state governor, Mr Sim Fubura.

The lawmakers had an issue with Mr Fubura, which led to a state of emergency declared on the oil-rich state by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025.

This embargo was only lift in September 2025 after the duration of the six-month emergency rule in the state.

A few days ago, members of the Rivers Assembly passed a vote of confidence on President Tinubu, backing him to remain in office till 2031, when he would have spent eight years in office if re-elected in 2027.

Announcing their defection today, the lawmakers pinned their decision on the crisis rocking the PDP at the national level.

It is not certain if their political godfather, Mr Nyesom Wike, who is the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), will join them in APC.

Mr Wike, who governed Rivers State from 2015 to 2023, has been accused of instigating the crisis in the opposition PDP. He was expelled from the party last month at a national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.

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Nigeria Risks Brain Drain in Energy Sector—PENGASSAN

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energy sector

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has warned that Nigeria risks massive brain drain in the oil and gas sector due to poor remuneration.

The president of PENGASSAN, Mr Festus Osifo, said at the end of the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union on Thursday in Abuja that the industry was facing challenges arising from Naira devaluation and inflation, noting that, oil and gas skills remained globally competitive.

Painting an example, he said, “A drilling engineer in Nigeria does the same job as one in the US or Abu Dhabi,” noting that the union must take steps to bridge the wage gap to prevent members from leaving the country for better opportunities abroad.

“If we don’t act, the brain drain seen in other sectors will be child’s play,” he said.

According to him, PENGASSAN has recorded significant gains through collective bargaining across oil and gas branches.

“We signed numerous agreements across government agencies, IOCs, service and marketing sectors,” he said.

He said the agreements brought relief to members facing rising costs of living, adding that, the association’s duty is to protect members’ jobs and enhance their pay.

Mr Osifo urged companies delaying salary reviews and those foot-dragging as a result of the prevailing economic realities, to do the needful.

He said the industry employed some of the nation’s best talents, making competitive pay critical to retaining skilled workers.

“This industry recruits the best. Companies must provide the best conditions,” he said.

On insecurity, Mr Osifo urged government to take decisive action against terrorism and kidnappings across the country.

“We are tired of condemnations. government must expose sponsors and protect citizens,” he said.

He urged government at all levels to prioritise tackling insecurity through better funding and equipment for security agencies.

Mr Osifo said PENGASSAN supported calls for state police to improve local security response, adding that decentralising policing will protect citizens better than rhetoric.

He also said economic indicators meant little, if food prices remained high and farmers could not return to farms due to insecurity.

“Nigerians want to see food on the table, not macroeconomic figures,” he said, urging the government to coordinate fiscal and monetary policies to ensure economic gains reach households.

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