Customs rakes in ₦5.1trn, says geospatial technologies aid border security

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated a record ₦5.1 trillion in revenue for the 2024 fiscal year.

Comptroller-General (C-G) of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, announced this achievement at the 18th Africa Security Watch Conference in Doha, Qatar.

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The announcement was made in a statement by the NCS spokesperson, Mr. Abdullahi Maiwada (CSC).

Mr. Adeniyi highlighted the NCS’s use of technology and enhanced compliance frameworks as key factors in achieving the milestone.

He said, “Under my leadership, the NCS generated a record-breaking ₦5.1 trillion in revenue, a feat that underscores the agency’s innovative use of technology and improved compliance frameworks.”

The Customs Service attracted global attention at the conference for its role in border security and trade facilitation. Mr. Adeniyi noted that the deployment of geospatial technologies had significantly improved the efficiency of the Service’s operations.

In his keynote address, titled “Protecting National Security Through Effective Border Control: The Nigeria Customs Example,” Mr. Adeniyi emphasized the importance of border management in national security. He described borders as critical gateways for protecting citizens, safeguarding the economy, and ensuring national security.

He also shared the Service’s operational successes, including the interception of several arms shipments, such as 844 rifles and 112,500 rounds of live ammunition at Onne Seaport, through intelligence-led operations. These efforts were part of the NCS’s broader mission to combat the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which pose a significant threat to national security.

Additionally, the NCS collaborated with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in numerous drug interdictions, further highlighting its commitment to national security.

Mr. Adeniyi also praised the NCS’s role in combating wildlife trafficking, mentioning the interception of 4,200 kilograms of pangolin scales and ivory, which reflects the Service’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and international compliance.
Regarding the fight against economic sabotage, Mr. Adeniyi pointed to Operation Whirlwind, a collaboration between the NCS and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which led to the interception of over 695,000 liters of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

The NCS’s achievements were recognized at the conference when it was awarded the “Best National Security Service in West, East, and Central Africa 2023/2024.”

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