The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated ₦3.35 trillion in revenue between January and May 2026, reflecting improved trade facilitation, enhanced customs procedures, and stronger border enforcement across the country.
The figures were presented during a joint security briefing coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja, where several security and law enforcement agencies highlighted their operational achievements.
Speaking on behalf of the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Titus Omajali disclosed that the agency processed close to 700,000 import declarations and issued more than 112,000 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAARs) within the five-month period.
He also revealed that the service facilitated exports worth $1.218 billion through 21,376 export containers, demonstrating continued growth in Nigeria’s export sector.
According to Omajali, export activities rebounded after declining to $171.76 million in March, rising to $274.83 million in April before increasing slightly to $275.90 million in May. Export container movement also surged, climbing from 2,847 containers in March to 6,144 in April, an indication of stronger participation by exporters and increased trade activity.
The Customs Service attributed the positive performance to ongoing efforts aimed at promoting legitimate trade while expanding the country’s non-oil export sector.
In addition to revenue generation, the agency intensified its anti-smuggling operations, leading to 122 narcotics seizures involving 375,457 units of illicit drugs with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦24.33 billion. Narcotics accounted for more than 91 percent of all seized items during the period, with March recording the highest number of interceptions.
The agency also intercepted about $789,550 in undeclared and falsely declared foreign currencies across six separate cases involving violations of currency declaration regulations. The offences included concealed cash in passengers’ luggage, under-declaration of foreign currencies, and the recovery of multiple ATM cards allegedly linked to illicit financial activities.
Furthermore, Customs recorded 17 wildlife trafficking cases involving 104 live animals and 21 endangered wildlife species and products, including pangolins, African Crowned Cranes, worked ivory, buffalo horns, and hyena skins.
The latest revenue performance builds on the agency’s record-breaking collections in 2025, when it generated ₦7.281 trillion. Officials noted that initiatives such as the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme have continued to improve compliance, increase customs revenue, and support legitimate trade, helping the service maintain its strong revenue growth in 2026.
