By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called for stronger legislative support to drive its modernisation agenda, saying a robust legal framework is essential to building a transparent, efficient and accountable customs administration capable of meeting Nigeria’s revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security objectives.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of a two-day strategic retreat for members of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs, organised to strengthen collaboration between the legislature and the Service while deepening lawmakers’ understanding of customs operations and ongoing reforms.
The retreat brought together members of the Senate Committee, the management of the Nigeria Customs Service and senior officers of the Service to deliberate on key issues bordering on customs administration, implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, trade modernisation, revenue generation, institutional reforms and legislative oversight.
In his address, Adeniyi said the retreat would provide members of the committee with a better appreciation of the Service’s trade modernisation programme while creating an avenue for discussions on legislative provisions requiring review to improve customs operations.
He explained that customs modernisation goes beyond deploying technology and must be supported by strong institutions, sound legislation and a shared commitment to integrity.
The Comptroller-General urged lawmakers to provide the legislative backing needed to remove obstacles to effective service delivery and ensure that reforms already initiated achieve their intended objectives.
He warned against actions capable of undermining the integrity of the Service’s automated systems, insisting that credibility must remain the foundation of the modernisation programme.
“Let us protect the boundary that makes modernisation credible. A risk engine that can be overridden by influence is not a risk engine. It is a formality with a computer just attached to it.
“The Service will keep that boundary, and your promised support for it will strengthen every officer who has to hold the line at the ports, at the airports or at any border station,” he said.
Adeniyi said the Nigeria Customs Service would continue to work closely with the Senate Committee, particularly in the areas of legislative oversight, policy implementation and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening customs administration.
He added that sustained engagement between both institutions would improve policy implementation, support the Service’s modernisation programme and better position Customs to respond to emerging challenges in international trade, border management and revenue mobilisation.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs, Senator Isah Jibrin, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its outstanding revenue performance, describing its achievement in 2025 as clear evidence that the reforms being implemented by the Service are yielding positive results.
He recalled that Customs was given a revenue target of about ₦6.5 trillion but surpassed expectations by generating approximately ₦7.3 trillion.
“The target was about ₦6.5 trillion. The actual revenue realised was about ₦7.3 trillion. Going forward in 2026, we believe you can do even more. What you need to do is identify your challenges and address them as much as possible so that you can record a more robust performance in 2026.
“Where we require legislative backing, please do not hesitate to call on us,” the senator said.
Jibrin assured the Customs management of the committee’s readiness to provide every necessary legislative support to enable the Service overcome operational challenges, improve efficiency and generate more revenue for the Federal Government.
He said the National Assembly would continue to partner with the Nigeria Customs Service in promoting reforms that enhance trade facilitation, strengthen border security and contribute to national economic development.
Also speaking, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, Tijani Abi, said the retreat forms part of the Service’s broader strategy to consolidate current reforms through continuous stakeholder engagement and institutional capacity building.
According to him, the engagement will further promote the transformation of the Nigeria Customs Service by encouraging policy consistency, strengthening collaboration with relevant stakeholders and ensuring the sustainability of reforms aimed at improving customs administration across the country.
Among senators in attendance were the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli; Senator Victor Umeh; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Senator Osita Ngwu; Senator Kelvin Chukwu; and other members of the committee. Senior management staff of the Nigeria Customs Service also participated in the retreat.
The two-day retreat features technical sessions on customs modernisation, legislative oversight, trade facilitation, revenue mobilisation, border management, anti-smuggling strategies and implementation of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Proceedings will continue on Thursday with additional technical sessions, after which participants are expected to receive certificates of participation. The final day will also feature a guided tour of the Nigeria Customs Service’s ICT Modernisation Facilities, giving members of the Senate Committee an opportunity to witness firsthand the Service’s ongoing digital transformation and technology-driven initiatives aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and service delivery.
