The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated ₦3.35 trillion in revenue between January and May 2026, driven by a combination of streamlined trade processing, automated systems, and aggressive anti-smuggling operations across the country.
Titus Omajali, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, disclosed the performance during a joint security briefing at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in Abuja. Over the five-month period, the agency managed a high volume of trade logistics, processing nearly 700,000 import declarations and issuing more than 112,000 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports (PAARs).
Nigeria’s export sector also showed a strong rebound following a sharp dip early in the spring. Total exports for the period reached $1.218 billion across 21,376 containers. While export values sat at $171.76 million in March, they climbed to $274.83 million in April and hit $275.90 million by May. This recovery was mirrored by a massive surge in shipping volumes, as container throughput more than doubled from 2,847 containers in March to 6,144 in April, signaling rising exporter confidence and progress in expanding the nation’s non-oil export base.
Alongside revenue collection, the NCS heavily intensified its enforcement operations to disrupt illicit trade, financial crime, and environmental trafficking. On the anti-narcotics front, officers executed 122 raids, intercepting 375,457 units of illegal drugs with a combined Duty Paid Value of ₦24.33 billion. Narcotics accounted for over 91 per cent of all contraband seized, with interceptions peaking in March following major coordinated operations.
Border agents also targeted illicit financial flows, intercepting $789,550 in undeclared or falsely declared foreign currencies across six separate cases. The violations involved cash hidden inside passenger baggage, under-reported currency amounts, and the discovery of multiple ATM cards intended for cross-border financial crimes. Additionally, the agency cracked down on environmental crimes, intercepting 17 wildlife trafficking cases involving 104 live animals and 21 endangered species and products, including pangolins, ivory, and hyena skins.
This five-month performance keeps the NCS on track to sustain the momentum of its record-breaking 2025 fiscal year, during which it collected ₦7.281 trillion. A primary catalyst for this sustained growth has been the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) scheme. By fast-tracking clearing processes for trusted, compliant businesses, the program boosted revenue from participating companies by nearly 30 per cent, pulling in an additional ₦362.79 billion. A group of just 51 AEO-certified corporations currently generates nearly 22 per cent of all customs revenue, proving that efficient trade facilitation directly drives higher state returns.
