* Lawmakers laud Customs over 2025 revenue surplus, call for ambitious, achievable projections
• Adeniyi cites reforms, policy shifts, global shocks as drivers of performance
The Senate Committee on Customs and Excise on Monday approved a ₦11.074 trillion revenue target for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), alongside a ₦1.235 trillion expenditure estimate for the 2026 fiscal year.
The upper chamber expressed confidence that the agency would sustain its ongoing reforms and improve revenue generation despite mounting global economic uncertainties.
The approval followed the defence of the Service’s 2026 budget by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, before the committee at the National Assembly.
Lawmakers commended the agency for surpassing its 2025 revenue target, while acknowledging the external challenges affecting international trade.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Isah Jibrin, described the new revenue projection as ambitious but achievable, urging the Service to intensify efforts to meet it.
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for extending the tenure of the Comptroller-General, noting that the decision would help consolidate ongoing reforms within the agency.
“I want to appreciate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for extending the service of the Comptroller-General of Customs,” he said.
“Since assuming office, he has embarked on far-reaching reforms that have resulted in improved revenue generation, stronger anti-smuggling operations and better trade facilitation.”
He added that the extension would enable the Comptroller-General to consolidate reforms and place the Service on a more sustainable path.
Senator Jibrin further noted that increased government spending on infrastructure has placed greater pressure on revenue-generating agencies such as Customs.
“The NCS remains one of the biggest revenue-generating agencies in the country.
“That places enormous responsibility on the Service, and I urge the management to work even harder to achieve its ambitious revenue target for 2026,” he said.
In his response, the Comptroller-General thanked President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him and appreciated the committee for adjusting its legislative recess to consider the budget proposal.
He also reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to sustaining collaboration with the National Assembly.
“We appreciate this sacrifice and do not take it for granted. We have always enjoyed the guidance and support of this distinguished committee and we look forward to sustaining that cordial relationship,” he said.
Reviewing the 2025 performance, Adeniyi disclosed that although the National Assembly approved a ₦6.584 trillion revenue target, the Service generated ₦7.277 trillion.
He said this represented an excess of ₦674.1 billion, or a 10.24 per cent increase above the approved projection.
According to him, the performance was achieved despite several fiscal policy adjustments and global economic disruptions, including suspension of excise duty on telecommunications services, delays in implementing the Green Tax and waivers on import duties for compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles.
Adeniyi also cited the impact of the Russia–Ukraine conflict, which disrupted global supply chains and affected imports of key commodities such as wheat.
Although revenue performance improved, he disclosed that the Service received only ₦808.86 billion out of its ₦1.132 trillion approved expenditure for 2025, representing 71.46 per cent implementation.
For 2026, the Customs Service is projecting a total revenue of ₦11.074 trillion, comprising ₦5.542 trillion from Federation Account revenue, ₦1.491 trillion from non-Federation collections, ₦2.773 trillion from import VAT and ₦1.266 trillion from four per cent Free-on-Board (FOB) cost of collection.(NAN)