By Mercy Aikoye
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has set an ambitious revenue target of N11.074 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year, nearly doubling its 2025 target of N6.584 trillion, following a record revenue collection of N7.277 trillion last year.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Monday while defending the agency’s 2026 budget proposal before the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Customs.
Adeniyi said the service had already generated N4.43 trillion as of May 31, 2026, expressing confidence that the agency would meet or surpass its annual revenue projection despite prevailing global economic uncertainties.
He attributed the optimism to ongoing reforms within the service, although he acknowledged that certain government policies had impacted revenue generation.
“In 2026, despite the major elephant in the room, which is the crisis in the Middle East, the Nigeria Customs Service is determined to achieve its revenue target of N11.074 trillion or even surpass it,” he said.
The Customs boss also presented the service’s proposed expenditure of N1.235 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year, comprising N421 billion for personnel costs, N307 billion for overheads, and N565 billion for capital projects.
Reviewing the agency’s 2025 performance, Adeniyi said Customs exceeded its revenue target by N674 billion, generating N7.277 trillion against the projected N6.584 trillion, representing a positive variance of about 10.24 per cent.
He, however, noted that revenue could have been higher but for policy measures such as tariff concessions on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles, as well as the delayed implementation of the proposed Green Tax.
The impressive performance drew commendation from members of the National Assembly, who also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for extending Adeniyi’s tenure as Comptroller-General by six months.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Senator Jibrin Isah (Kogi East), described the tenure extension as well deserved, citing the reforms introduced under Adeniyi’s leadership.
According to the senator, the Customs Service has recorded significant improvements in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations, trade facilitation, and infrastructure development aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business.
“Customs under your leadership has been transformed through a series of revenue-generating reforms, improved anti-smuggling measures, enhanced trade facilitation and provision of critical infrastructure.
“Please work harder in 2026 to actualise your budget projections and sustain the impressive performance,” Isah said.
Following the presentation, the Senate Committee unanimously approved the agency’s 2026 budget proposal through a voice vote.
