Nigeria’s busiest ports are minting money, but not fast enough to rescue the ambitious revenue target handed to the Nigeria Customs Service by the Senate, leaving a widening gap between performance and expectation.
At Tin Can Island Port, revenue climbed to N1.57 trillion by December 11, 2025, up from N1.25 trillion the previous year. Frank Onyeka, the Customs Area Controller, credited the surge to tighter internal coordination, institutional reforms and better compliance across cargo categories, with “bulk cargo, general merchandise and used vehicle imports” continuing to dominate trade volumes through the port.
Onyeka said the command’s approach combined diligent cargo examination with strict adherence to procedure to ensure full government revenue was collected. He also said intelligence-driven operations led to major seizures of prohibited and improperly declared goods.
Apapa Port, Nigeria’s single biggest revenue-generating command, posted an even stronger performance. Collections there rose to about N2.93 trillion, representing a growth of over 24 percent compared with 2024, when the command generated around N573.2 billion less.
Emmanuel Oshoba, the Area Controller, attributed the result to effective leadership, disciplined manpower and the strategic use of technology.
A major driver, Oshoba explained, was the deployment of the Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, which has improved transparency, efficiency and accountability in cargo clearance.
Regular performance reviews and timely revenue recovery measures also helped strengthen collections, he added, disclosing that preparations were at an advanced stage to deploy the FS6000 cargo scanning system capable of scanning hundreds of containers per hour.
Enforcement also contributed to revenue. Oshoba disclosed that officers intercepted 53 containers loaded with illicit drugs and prohibited items, including cocaine, Canadian loud, tramadol and expired pharmaceuticals, with a duty-paid value put at about N12.6 billion.
He expressed confidence that Apapa would post even stronger numbers in 2026 as B’Odogwu is more deeply implemented, alongside the Authorised Economic Operator programme and the One Stop Shop initiative.
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Yet, for all the momentum at the ports, the distance from the mark remains long.
At the start of 2025, Customs submitted a target of just over N6 trillion following a performance in the previous year that saw it exceed its target “easily.”
However, the Senate Committee on Customs raised the amount to N12 trillion, which was later reviewed and set at N10 trillion by the Senate.
Since then, the Service has rolled out a series of measures to meet this target by year end, including the accelerated deployment of B’Odogwu, designed to streamline trade facilitation and phase out manual clearance.
By September, Customs had recorded N3.6 trillion in the first half of 2025, leaving about N6 trillion to be raised in the second half of the year to meet the Senate-approved target.
BusinessDay’s conversation with a Customs representative revealed that the Service might still be working internally with its initial proposal of N6.5 trillion.
With its two biggest ports by size barely accounting for half that figure, industry watchers are now awaiting the final 2025 revenue declaration by the Comptroller General of the NCS later this year.
What happens if Customs can’t meet the N10 trillion target
While the Nigeria Customs Service is not legally sanctioned for missing its revenue benchmark, a shortfall typically triggers intense scrutiny from the National Assembly, including summons by relevant committees and demands for explanations on performance gaps.
Such outcomes can also affect budgetary approvals, leadership assessments and the broader perception of the agency’s efficiency.
But it could deepen fiscal strain for the federal government, which increasingly relies on Customs receipts to plug revenue gaps amid weak oil earnings.
It could also mean more pressure on other revenue agencies, tighter government spending and renewed calls for Customs to widen its tax net, tighten enforcement and push harder on trade compliance across ports and borders.
Experts concern
Experts have already expressed concern, warning that the target may be too ambitious for comfort.
“Yearly revenue targets are not just mere figures to be given or pronounced under the euphoria of prevailing excitements,” said Eugene Nweke, head of research at the Shippers and Exporters Research and Education Centre.
He said an excessive focus on revenue generation could divert attention away from other important aspects of Customs operations, such as trade facilitation and regulatory enforcement.
Muda Yusuf, chairman of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise, cautioned that the new target would likely drive up the cost of cargo clearance, compounding inflationary pressures.
“Part of the source of high inflation is the high cost of imports,” Yusuf said. “The National Assembly should also be sensitive enough to bring relief to businesses and citizens.”
