By seaflyponews 
Q1 2025:
Customs Generates ₦1.75 trillion, expands B’odogwu trade modernisation platform
By Babatunde Aremu
The Nigeria customs service has collected
₦1,751,502,252,298.05 (One Trillion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-One Billion, Five Hundred and Two Million, Two Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Ninety-Eight Naira, Five Kobo) in the first quarter of this year 2025.
Comptroller General of customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during a quarterly Press briefing held to give account of the revenue performance of the NCS
The CG said further:
“Against our annual target of ₦6,580,000,000,000.00, the first quarter’s proportional benchmark stood at ₦1,645,000,000,000.00. I’m proud to announce we’ve exceeded this target by ₦106.5 billion, achieving 106.47% of our quarterly projection. This outstanding performance represents a substantial 29.96% increase compared to the same period in 2024, where we collected
₦1,347,705,251,658.31.
Our month-by-month analysis reveals even more encouraging details of this growth trajectory. January’s collection of ₦647,880,245,243.67 not only surpassed its monthly target of ₦548.33 billion by 18.12%, but also showed a remarkable 65.77% year-on-year growth. February’s ₦540,105,439,535.18 exceeded its target by 1.3% while achieving 19.97% growth over 2024 figures. March maintained this positive trend with ₦563,516,567,519.20, delivering 2.7% above target and an 11.22% improvement over March 2024”
0n Anti smuggling and enforcement the CG said the Nigeria Customs Service maintained robust anti-smuggling operations during the first quarter of 2025, recording 298 seizures with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦7,698,557,347.67. This represents a significant 78.41% increase compared to the ₦4,315,162,568.35 recorded in Q4 2024, demonstrating heightened operational effectiveness.
“However, when compared to Q1 2024’s
₦9,587,256,998.05, the Service observed a 19.70% reduction in DPV,
attributable to improved compliance through sustained stakeholder engagement and the deterrent effect of our enforcement activities”—He said
Other notable seizures according to the CG included textile fabrics (13 cases, ₦134,219,330.00 DPV), retreaded tires (5 cases, ₦104,599,000.00 DPV), and pharmaceuticals (1 case, ₦17,188,000.00 DPV).
“These comprehensive results demonstrate the Service’s vigilance across all categories of prohibited and restricted goods.
The seizure trends highlight several strategic priorities:
a. Continued emphasis on intercepting high-volume items like rice and petroleum products through enhanced border surveillance
b. Specialized operations targeting high-value wildlife trafficking, building on existing collaborations with UNODC and other international partners
c. Sustained focus on dangerous narcotics and pharmaceutical smuggling
d. Implementation of advanced non-intrusive inspection technology to improve detection rates
13. From rice to wildlife, these seizures show our targeted approach. While these results indicate progress in curbing smuggling activities, the Service recognizes the evolving nature of illicit trade. We remain committed to refining our enforcement strategies through intelligence-led operations, technological
advancement, and strengthened interagency cooperation to protect national revenue and security”—He said
The CG also highlighted more cheering achievements:
“We continued the roll-out of our indigenously developed customs clearance platform, B’Odogwu, expanding its operations to additional Customs formations across the country. This expansion has enhanced operational efficiency and improved service delivery to our stakeholders.
On 14 February, 2025, we officially launched the Authorized Economic Operators Programme, a World Customs Organization-endorsed initiative that recognizes businesses with strong compliance records and security standards. This programme provides benefits such as expedited clearance, reduced inspections, and enhanced predictability in customs procedures for qualifying operators.
Corporate Social Responsibility Programme. The quarter saw the official launch of our comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, tagged “Customs Cares.” on 20 March 2025 at Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, directly supporting Presidential priorities and UN Sustainable Development Goals. The program’s six pillars—Education, Health, Environment, Food Security, Social Investment, and Creative Economy—were activated with 2,000 students receiving 10,000 notebooks, 2,000 school bags and 4,000 pens, while the school benefited from CCTV security systems and solar-powered lighting. A concurrent medical outreach served 1,000 community members with basic healthcare and anti-malaria nets, demonstrating immediate impact. The historic launch was attended by the Honourable Ministers of Finance”
Education, and Youth Development, alongside national and international development partners, marking the NCS’s commitment to nationwide social investment. With activities now expanding across all six geopolitical zones, Customs Cares represents a structured, scalable approach to community development—transforming corporate responsibility into tangible improvements in education infrastructure, healthcare access, and environmental sustainability.
d. Support for Government Food Security Initiatives. In line with the Federal Government’s efforts to address food security challenges, the Service implemented exemptions on imports of essential food items like maize, rice and sorghum. The NCS’s duty exemptions on food imports have contributed to recent food price reductions, with effects seen both immediately and over time. The Q1 2025 waivers on maize (₦45.3 billion FOB value), rice (₦751.6 million), and sorghum (₦2.3 billion) also contributed to lowering prices by 12-18% this year. At the same time, the larger exemptions from 2024 on rice (₦45.9 billion FOB) and wheat (₦2.8 billion) are now showing their full effect after taking time to work through the supply chain. This combination of current and past exemptions helps explain the steady improvement in food affordability. The 2024 measures initially faced delays in reaching markets but eventually increased supplies, while the 2025 waivers provided additional support. Together, these policies have helped stabilize prices by improving availability at different times, showing how customs adjustments can influence food costs both in the short term and over longer periods. The NBS price data reflects this pattern, where the benefits of duty relief emerge gradually but add up to make food more affordable.
Results speak louder than plans; faster clearances through B’Odogwu, trusted traders in the AEO program, and measurable food price relief from our exemptions. We’ll keep scaling what works
The CG however said the NCS experienced some challenges:
” Despite our achievements, the Service encountered several challenges during the quarter that impacted our operations and performance. Chief among
these was exchange rate volatility, which continued to affect trade patterns and customs valuation. During Q1 2025, we recorded 62 changes in the exchange rate, ranging from a minimum of ₦1,477.72 to a maximum of ₦1,569.53 per USD, with an average rate of ₦1,521.59.
This volatility, though slightly moderated compared to the previous quarter (Q4 2024) which saw rates as high as ₦1,688.28, continues to create uncertainty for traders and affects the predictability of import costs. We have been working closely with the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Finance to implement measures aimed at stabilizing the exchange rate for import declarations.
Another significant challenge was the implementation and subsequent suspension of the Financial Customs Service Operation (FCSO), also known as the four percent FOB. This development created temporary operational adjustments for both the Service and our stakeholders.
In March, we also faced uncertainty regarding the 14% Reciprocal tariff imposed on Nigerian exports by the United States of America. This development has potential implications for our export trade and requires strategic diplomatic and policy responses.
Non-compliance, particularly in the form of smuggling, remains a persistent challenge despite our enhanced enforcement efforts. We continue to adapt our strategies to combat increasingly sophisticated smuggling networks, leveraging technology and intelligence-led operations to tackle this threat to our economy and security”
He gave assurances of a more robust performance by the Nigeria customs service in the remainder of 2025:
” our strategic focus will center on two key areas:
a. Continuous Modernization. We will accelerate the aggressive modernization of Service processes and procedures through the launch of innovative solutions designed to enhance stakeholder experience. This
includes further expansion of the B’Odogwu platform, implementation of advanced risk management systems, and integration of emerging technologies into our operations.
b. Service Delivery Enhancement. We remain committed to delivering quality services to all our stakeholders, with emphasis on efficiency, transparency, and professionalism. This commitment will guide our human resource development initiatives, procedural reforms, and stakeholder engagement strategies.
These strategic priorities align with the Service’s long-term vision of becoming a fully modernized customs administration that facilitates legitimate trade while effectively securing the nation’s borders and optimizing revenue collection for national development”– He said