The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated ₦3.35 trillion in revenue between January and May 2026 while intensifying anti-smuggling, anti-money laundering and wildlife protection operations across the country. The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed this on Thursday during a joint security briefing in Abuja.
He was represented by Chief Superintendent of Customs Titus Omojali. Maiwada said the Service processed 698,817 Single Goods Declarations and issued 112,202 Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports within the five-month period, underscoring its drive to improve cargo clearance, border management and trade facilitation.
He added that the Service also facilitated exports valued at $1.218 billion, with 21,376 export containers processed during the review period. According to him, export performance, which dipped to $171.76 million in March, rebounded to $274.83 million in April before rising marginally to $275.90 million in May.
Container throughput also surged from 2,847 containers in March to 6,144 in April, reflecting increased export activity. “The Nigeria Customs Service continues to record significant progress in its core mandates of trade facilitation, revenue generation, border security and the protection of national economic interests,” he said.
On anti-smuggling operations, Maiwada disclosed that the Service recorded 122 illicit drug seizures, intercepting 375,457 units of narcotics and other prohibited substances with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦24.33 billion. He said narcotics accounted for more than 91 per cent of the total quantity seized and nearly 95 per cent of the total DPV, highlighting Customs’ sustained efforts to curb drug trafficking and protect communities from the dangers of illicit substances.
According to him, March recorded the highest volume of drug interceptions following major enforcement operations that led to the seizure of more than 248,500 units of narcotics. The Service also intensified its anti-money laundering operations, recording six major currency declaration violation cases involving about $789,550 in undeclared and falsely declared foreign currencies.
Maiwada said the offences ranged from concealment of cash in passengers’ baggage to under-declaration and non-declaration of foreign currency, including the interception of multiple Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards allegedly intended for illicit financial transactions.
He said the seizures underscored the Service’s growing role in combating illicit financial flows, strengthening financial integrity and safeguarding national security.