The six-month extension of the tenure of Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi has been described as a chance to consolidate ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Senator Jibrin Isah (APC, Kogi East), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, made the remark on Monday during the defence of the Nigeria Customs Service’s 2026 budget proposal before the committee.
Isah also commended President Tinubu for his continued support for reforms in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), saying the administration’s patience, confidence, and commitment have boosted revenue generation, investor confidence, and economic activity. He noted that the President remained steadfast despite reform challenges.
The CGC disclosed that the NCS surpassed its revenue target for the period under review, generating ₦7.27 trillion between January and May against a target of ₦6.5 trillion.
Isah said the reforms have produced concrete results, including higher revenue, greater economic participation, and stronger investor confidence.
He added that ongoing consultations between the Committee and the NCS have helped strengthen revenue collection while speeding up infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity, facilitating trade, and delivering lasting benefits to Nigerians.
He stressed that tax revenue remains a major source of income for the Federal Government and urged sustained commitment to key projects and reforms through 2026.
Adeniyi explained that the budget performance marked a 10.2 per cent increase over the same period in 2025, despite several policy and economic headwinds.
He said the suspension of the proposed excise duty on telecommunications services and the non-implementation of the Green Tax significantly affected projected revenue.
Duty waivers on essential imports such as food items, medical supplies, machinery, and petroleum products also reduced collections. The waivers supported the Federal Government’s economic relief measures. Imports covered by the waivers were valued at about ₦34.5 trillion. Only four of the eleven proposed excisable products were implemented during the period, limiting expected excise revenue.
Adeniyi further noted that global events, including the Russia–Ukraine conflict and rising tensions involving Iran, the United States, and the Strait of Hormuz, have continued to disrupt supply chains and reduce cargo volumes, impacting customs revenue projections.
Despite these challenges, he said the Unified Customs Management System (B’Odogwu) is now fully operational across all ports, improving customs administration, trade facilitation, and revenue collection.
He added that the Service is strengthening revenue recovery, modernising operations, and expanding capacity-building programmes with international partners including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
The Service has proposed a 2026 revenue target of about ₦1.235 trillion, with earnings expected from Free-on-Board (FOB) imports, VAT-related collections, and receipts from capital projects.
The proposed budget also outlines personnel expenditure of ₦421.77 billion, overhead costs of ₦300.77 billion, and capital expenditure of roughly ₦1.65 trillion to fund infrastructure, ICT development, equipment procurement, project completion, and contractual obligations.
Adeniyi reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to accountability and transparency. He assured the Committee that the NCS will continue to operate under legislative oversight while strengthening trade facilitation and revenue generation.
