By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has set an ambitious revenue target of N11.074 trillion for the 2026 fiscal year, almost doubling its 2025 target of N6.584 trillion, following its record-breaking revenue performance in 2025.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Monday while defending the agency’s 2026 budget proposal before the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Customs.
During the budget defence, Adeniyi said the Service had already realised N4.43 trillion of its projected 2026 revenue as of May 31, expressing confidence that the Customs Service would not only meet but surpass its annual target despite prevailing global economic challenges.
He attributed the confidence to ongoing reforms aimed at boosting revenue generation, strengthening anti-smuggling operations, improving trade facilitation, and enhancing operational efficiency.
The Customs boss also presented the agency’s proposed N1.235 trillion expenditure for the 2026 fiscal year. According to him, N421 billion is earmarked for personnel costs, N307 billion for overhead expenses, while N565 billion will be spent on capital projects.
Reviewing the Service’s 2025 performance, Adeniyi said the NCS exceeded its revenue target by generating N7.277 trillion, surpassing the projected N6.584 trillion by about N674 billion, representing a positive variance of approximately 10.24 per cent.
He, however, noted that revenue generation could have been higher but for some government policy measures, including tariff concessions for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles, as well as the delayed implementation of the Green Tax policy.
Despite these challenges, Adeniyi expressed optimism that the Service would achieve its 2026 revenue target.
“Despite the major elephant in the room, which is the crisis in the Middle East, the Nigeria Customs Service is determined to achieve its revenue target of N11.074 trillion and even surpass it,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Customs commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for extending Adeniyi’s tenure as Comptroller-General of Customs by six months.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Senator , congratulated the Customs boss on the extension, describing it as well deserved in view of the Service’s impressive performance under his leadership.
He said the Nigeria Customs Service had witnessed remarkable transformation through sustained revenue reforms, strengthened anti-smuggling initiatives, enhanced trade facilitation, and improved infrastructure aimed at promoting ease of doing business.
“Customs under your leadership has been transformed through a series of revenue-generating reforms, improved anti-smuggling measures, enhanced trade facilitation and the provision of critical infrastructure for ease of doing business.
“Please work harder in 2026 to actualise your budget dreams and projections,” the senator said.
Following the presentation, members of the Senate Committee unanimously approved the 2026 budget proposal of the Nigeria Customs Service through a voice vote.
