By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has set a revenue target of N6.58 trillion for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for 2025, according to the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Mr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, after the agency collected an unprecedented N6.11 trillion in 2024.

The amount generated last year according to the customs chief, surpassed its N5.08 trillion revenue target for the year by N1.03 trillion or 20.2 per cent.

Mr Adeniyi said the remarkable achievement represented 90.4 percent increase compared to N3.21 trillion collected in 2023, describing the revenue growth as historic as it marked the highest year-on-year increase recorded by the service in recent times, surpassing the 52.24 per cent growth recorded in 2022 by 38.18 per cent.

Mr Adeniyi also pointed out that the service achieved another milestone in October 2024 when it recorded N603.17 billion as the highest monthly collection in the history of the NCS, noting that the new revenue target reflected the government’s confidence in customs’ capabilities and the expanding scope of its operations.

Further providing a breakdown of the revenue collection for last year, Mr Adeniyi stated that N3.66 trillion was collected into the Federation Account, consisting of import duty, excise duty, fees, e-auction proceeds, and Common External Tariff (CET) levy.

He pointed out that the collections were achieved despite significant concessions granted to support various sectors of the economy, totaling N1.68 trillion, saying these concessions comprised N723 billion in import duty waivers, N372.65 billion in other levy concessions, and N586.65 billion in import VAT relief.

Mr Adeniyi noted that the strategic concessions were granted to stimulate economic growth, support industrial development, and enhance the overall business environment in line with government policy objectives.

He said the 2024 concession value represented a significant reduction from the N3.95 trillion recorded in 2023, adding that the reduction was a direct result of the service’s enhanced monitoring mechanisms and strategic reforms.

According to the CGC, this was aimed at blocking loopholes and eliminating abuses in the concession granting process, ensuring that only genuine and qualifying enterprises benefitted from these incentives, adding that the service made several commitments towards modernising its operations and enhancing service delivery.

He said despite its impressive revenue performance, the service remained conscious of the need to strike a balance between revenue collection and trade facilitation, adding that this balance was evident in its commitments at the beginning of the year and served as a milestone for gauging performance throughout 2024.

The CGC pointed out that trade data for 2024 reflected significant growth in trade value despite global economic headwinds, stressing that the service processed imports with a Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value of N60.29 trillion in 2024, representing a remarkable 117.4 per cent increase from N27.74 trillion in 2023.

He said this was achieved through 1,262,988 import transactions, handling a total mass of 15.35 billion kilograms –noting that the higher value recorded despite an 8.2 per cent decrease in transaction volume from the previous year’s 1,376,514 transactions indicated a shift towards higher-value goods in our import trade portfolio.

He said export trade performance was equally impressive, with the total CIF value rising significantly to N136.65 trillion in 2024 from N42.77 trillion in 2023, marking a 219.5 per cent increase.

He said while the number of export transactions remained relatively stable at 38,199 compared to 38,294 in 2023, the country witnessed a substantial increase in export volume, processing 12.35 billion kilograms in 2024 compared to 3.70 billion kilograms in 2023, noting that the 234 per cent increase in export mass, coupled with the higher value, indicated a robust growth in our export trade and suggested increasing competitiveness of Nigerian products in the international market.

According to him, the total trade value handled by the service in the review year amounted to N196.94 trillion, compared to N70.50 trillion in 2023, representing a 179.3 percent increase.

On its anti-smuggling operations, Adeniyi stated that the NCS adapted its strategies to the evolving security challenges resulting in 3,555 seizures in 2024 with a dramatic 100.92 per cent increase in the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of seizures from N17.56 billion in 2023 to N35.29 billion in 2024.

He said the seizures, with CIF value of N28.46 billion and a total duty of N6.83 billion highlighted the scale of attempted economic sabotage prevented by the service, adding that the recorded seizures included traditional and emerging risks to Nigeria’s economic and overall national security.

The customs chief stated that there were seizures of arms and ammunition, including 900 arms and 113,472 rounds of ammunition, and the interception of narcotics and other illicit drugs, resulting in 105 seizures across various forms that were aided by the declaration of a state of emergency at our major entry points.

Mr Adeniyi said the service also intercepted unauthorised pharmaceutical products, with 40 seizures including 175,676 pieces and 6,271 cartons of various medicaments valued at N3.04 billion, protecting public health from potentially dangerous counterfeit drugs.

According to him, the service’s enforcement activities also revealed evolving patterns in environmental and wildlife crimes, with 76 seizures of animal/wildlife products valued at N5.93 billion.

“We also maintained vigilance over trade-sensitive goods, as evidenced by the seizure of 183,527 bags of rice. Additionally, significant seizures were made of other restricted items including 3,785 bales of textiles valued at N945.9 million, and various quantities of footwear, beverages, and other consumer goods, protecting local industries and supporting the government’s economic diversification agenda.

“The service also recorded 397 seizures of vehicles valued at N5.64 billion, as we continue to enforce import regulations and protect government revenue.

“The mounting sophistication of smuggling networks also necessitated a corresponding elevation in our enforcement capabilities, leading to enhanced collaboration with national and international partners and the deployment of advanced detection approaches.

“Worthy of note is the launch of operation Whirlwind with the support of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) under the Nigeria Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited

“This operation resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of petroleum products totaling 1,716,656 litres from saboteurs diverting petroleum products intended for home use to neighbouring countries.

“Most significantly, our enforcement activities have yielded 55 arrests of suspects currently under investigation as we continue to dismantle the criminal networks behind these activities.

Mr Adeniyi stressed that to strengthen customs’ enforcement capabilities further, the service is actively expanding its technological infrastructure by integrating geo-spatial technology and other cutting-edge solutions.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Director-General of the Nigeria-China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr Joseph Tegbe, is currently visiting China to bolster China-Nigeria relations and foster economic and sustainable development between both countries.

The DG, with the Nigerian delegation, on Monday was at the headquarters of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the People’s Republic of China where the NDRC Deputy Chairman received them, Mr. Zhao Chenxin, and other top officials, as well as the Nigerian diplomatic community and the Chinese Business Community.

Mr Tegbe is expected to cement strategic agreements in line with President Tinubu’s vision, with China for national growth and in vital sectors of the economy such as agriculture, to boost food security, alternative energy for developing renewable energy sources, healthcare, mining for harnessing Nigeria’s mineral resources to drive economic growth, education to strengthen Nigeria institutions and promote cultural exchange.

Other areas include technology, to foster innovation and advancement, and the support initiative of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The visit of the NCSP ‘s DG underscores the federal government’s commitment to establishing strong bilateral relations and supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification plans, infrastructure development, technology transfer, and job creation to foster mutually beneficial collaboration between the two nations.

Through this initiative, Nigeria can leverage its resources and human capital to develop key industries, bolster infrastructure, and enhance youth capacity through skills acquisition programmes.

On Monday, the DG NCSP and his team visited the CCECC Head Office, had dinner with the CHEC, and will on Tuesday, visit the Governor of the Central Development Bank, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the China Export, Import Bank, as well as the China Development Bank. They also met with Power China Representatives.

They will on Wednesday, visit the Chief Harbour, the CHEC, CNCEC, and the CCECC Chairman, before moving to the CSCS Haishen Medical on Thursday, the CCECC, the China Building Materials, amongst others.

They will on Monday, 20th January, visit the Consulate General/Trade Mission Office, the Yang Shang Deep Sea Port, and Danghai Bridge (Sea).

The team is also expected at Huawei, before going to the CEC/ Long UAV, for a meeting with Diana Chen on Saturday, before returning to Nigeria.

This initiative comes on the heels of President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to China before the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where he had talks with China’s President Xi Jinping on improved economic cooperation, with the latter pledging 360 Billion Yuan, (about $51 billion), financing to African nations in the next three years, and support for 30 infrastructure projects to boost connectivity across the continent.

Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Nigeria to reinforce the growing partnership between China and Africa, especially Nigeria, with discussions on strengthening economic ties, enhancing security cooperation and mutual developmental goals.

As Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy, seeks to become a net exporter to China in the next five years, the consolidated partnership is aimed at playing a crucial role in achieving this goal.

The country also remains China’s major partner on the continent for trade and technology investments.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, said power generation in the country increased by about 30 per cent in 2024, but missed crucial targets in the review year.

Mr Adelabu made the disclosure during his ministry’s 2025 budget defence before the Senate Committee on Power at the National Assembly complex on Monday.

He said that when he assumed the leadership of the ministry in 2023, he met an average of 4,100 megawatts of power generation.

“I can tell you authoritatively that by the end of 2024, we had a peak generation of 5,528 megawatts of power from 4,100 megawatts that we met on ground and the reason for this is not far-fetched. We added a new hydroelectric power dam, Zungeru, with 700 megawatts.

“There was also a tremendous increase in the generation lines by other existing generation companies,” he said.

The Minister said that the target for power generation was 6,000 megawatts, adding, however, that due to the challenges experienced toward the end of 2024 in terms of grid collapses, the ministry missed the target by a minimal margin.

He further said that apart from energy access expansion, the sector had plans to stabilise the grid and other transmission infrastructure.

“I’m happy to also inform you that out of the eight collapses of the national grid that we experienced during 2024, five were full collapses, while three were partial collapses.

“Out of the five full collapses, three were actually due to generation problems. So, as against the 12 collapse that were publicised, it was just about eight collapses.

“We have been trying very hard to ensure that we manage the grid that was inherited.

“Unfortunately, it is still very old. It is dilapidated. And we are just managing it until we are able to fix it permanently.

“This is the focus of the Presidential Power Initiative, to ensure that the entire grid is revamped so that we won’t be having all this vandalism.

“So these are the summaries of our activities. And we are proud to say that we almost met all our targets for 2024.

“Our hope is that 2025 will be a better year for us, and we will be able to address all the existing issues in the sector,” he said.