The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has presented its 2025 budget proposal before the Senate Committee on Customs, seeking approval for a projected revenue target of ₦6.584 trillion and a proposed expenditure of ₦1.132 trillion.
However, in a significant move, the committee directed the NCS to scale up its revenue generation capacity and aim for a more ambitious target of ₦10 trillion in the 2025 fiscal year.
The directive came from the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Senator Isah Jibrin (Kogi East), who praised the NCS for surpassing its 2024 revenue target. He stressed that the agency had demonstrated the capacity to exceed expectations and should therefore set higher goals in line with the nation’s economic needs.
The NCS delegation, led by Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Jibo Bello—who represented the Comptroller General—presented the Service’s 2024 budget performance during the session.
According to Bello, the NCS was given a revenue target of ₦5.079 trillion for the year but managed to exceed it by over ₦1 trillion. This impressive performance prompted the committee to applaud the agency’s effort and express confidence in its ability to meet even higher targets.
Following the presentation, Senator Jibrin called on his fellow committee members to approve the NCS’s 2025 budget proposal as presented: ₦6.584 trillion in projected revenue and ₦1.132 trillion in proposed expenditure.
The committee unanimously adopted the recommendation, with the understanding that the revised ₦10 trillion target would be strongly pursued.
The approved budget proposal is expected to be laid before the entire Senate at plenary during the week, following the chamber’s resumption from the Sallah recess on Tuesday, June 24.
In his closing remarks, Senator Jibrin emphasized that while revenue generation remains a core mandate of the NCS, the agency must not lose sight of its equally critical roles in national security and economic protection.
He urged the NCS to intensify efforts in curbing the inflow of illicit drugs into the country, citing a link between drug abuse and the growing menace of banditry.
“There is a disturbing level of drug trafficking across the country, and many of those involved in violent crimes are under the influence of drugs,” Senator Jibrin stated.
“While you strive to meet revenue targets, you must also rise to your responsibilities in intercepting these substances.”
He further addressed the issue of widespread smuggling, pointing out that numerous items illegally imported into Nigeria could be locally produced. The senator reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s earlier call for Nigerians to patronize locally-made goods in order to reduce import dependence and preserve the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
“We must prioritize the consumption of what we produce. A lot of smuggled goods are things we can make right here, even in their simplest form,” Jibrin noted.
“By encouraging local production and reducing unnecessary imports, we will not only conserve foreign exchange but also stimulate job creation and revive the use of local raw materials that are currently lying dormant.”
The committee concluded by urging the NCS to implement tighter surveillance mechanisms at the borders and ensure robust enforcement of trade regulations.
The expectation is that the Service will strike a balance between revenue generation, anti-smuggling enforcement, and contributions to national security and economic growth.