Customs rakes in N1.38trn, seizes N61.3bn contraband

From Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated N1.38 trillion in revenue in July and August 2026, while intercepting contraband with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of more than N61.3 billion during the two-month period.

National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this yesterday at the joint security agencies spokespersons briefing in Abuja.

Maiwada said the Service collected N784.65 billion in July and N595.58 billion in August, bringing the total revenue generated in the two months to about N1.38 trillion.

According to him, the impressive revenue performance was recorded amid increased efforts to facilitate legitimate trade, strengthen border control and deploy technology in customs operations.

He disclosed that the Apapa Area Command recorded its highest-ever monthly collection of N323 billion in July, before setting a new single-day revenue record of N28.1 billion on August 18.

The figure surpassed the previous daily collection record of N20.1 billion, which was achieved in September 2025.

Maiwada said: “Revenue performance remained significant, with the Service generating N784,656,042,005.97 in July and N595,581,420,186.23 in August, representing a combined revenue collection of N1.38 trillion over the period.”

He attributed the improved performance to technology-driven operations, enhanced border enforcement and measures introduced to facilitate legitimate trade. On trade facilitation, the Customs spokesman said the Service processed 90,985 Single Goods Declarations during the period, comprising 55,731 in July and 35,254 in August.

He added that 8,873 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports were also processed.

Maiwada further disclosed that export operations recorded significant growth during the period, with the Lilypond Export Command posting an export value of $792.57 million in the second quarter of 2026. The figure, he said, represented a 24.35 per cent increase over the $599.60 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

He said export container throughput also increased by 32.27 per cent to 5,510, while agricultural exports rose to $422.09 million.

Manufactured goods exports, according to him, nearly tripled to $350.67 million, while collections under the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme increased by 9.52 per cent to N5.38 billion.

Maiwada said the Service processed 9,322 export containers carrying agricultural produce, manufactured goods, solid minerals and other commodities between July and August 26.

On enforcement activities, he said Area Commands and Federal Operations Units intercepted various forms of contraband with a combined Duty Paid Value exceeding N61.3 billion.

Among the seizures, he said, was N362.2 million worth of goods intercepted by the Adamawa/Taraba Command.

The seized items included 25,295 litres of petrol, cannabis and heavy machinery allegedly being moved illegally to Chad.

Similarly, the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, disrupted a smuggling operation involving goods valued at N3.24 billion and recovered N728.98 million in lost revenue.

The operation also led to the seizure of 1,439.9 kilogrammes of synthetic cannabis, controlled tablets and 22 elephant tusks.

The Ogun I Command, Maiwada said, seized goods valued at N3.57 billion, including rice, sugar and cannabis.

At the Seme Command, Customs operatives intercepted expired noodles, rice, cannabis and 310,000 sticks of cigarettes with a total value of N365.2 million.

He said the seizures underscored the determination of the Service to prevent the movement of prohibited goods across the nation’s borders and protect the economy from the activities of smugglers.

Maiwada stressed that inter-agency collaboration and technology-driven enforcement remained central to the NCS strategy of improving revenue generation, facilitating legitimate trade and combating smuggling across the country.

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