Nigeria and “2025 International Customs Day” Celebration
By Abdulsalam Mahmud,
Every January 26 is a special day for officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and their counterparts worldwide. It is the occasion when the “International Customs Day” is commemorated globally.
Penultimate Monday, Nigeria joined the rest of the world in celebrating this epochal day. While it was not the first time the Nigeria Customs management rolled out the drums for the event, it was the first Customs Day celebration held at the newly-built and imposing National Headquarters of the NCS in Abuja.
Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, was the “Special Guest of Honour” at the ceremony, where 17 customs personnel, along with four stakeholders in customs operations, were honoured with certificates of excellence for their diligence and outstanding performance.
Ian Saunders, Secretary-General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), delivered a goodwill message virtually. Meanwhile, the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, congratulated the awardees and urged them not to rest on their oars.
In his opening address, Adeniyi described International Customs Day as an opportunity for the service to assess its achievements in 2024, reinforce its commitments, and strategically position itself to meet the evolving demands of global customs administration.
International Customs Day is observed annually on January 26 by the WCO to acknowledge the role of customs officials and agencies in maintaining border security, facilitating trade, and collecting customs duties.
Adeniyi noted that the 2025 theme, “Customs: Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity,” aptly captures the core mandates of the NCS—facilitating legitimate trade, safeguarding national borders, and promoting economic growth.
“The service’s unprecedented achievement of N6.1 trillion in revenue collection, coupled with significant security interventions, exemplifies our commitment to these core mandates. In pursuit of operational efficiency, the service has made remarkable progress in modernising our processes and procedures,” he said.
He disclosed that their Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme has reduced cargo clearance time by 66.9 per cent, with an average release time of 43 hours for certified companies. The NCS, like other customs administrations, focuses on several critical risk domains identified by the WCO, including: anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing; cultural heritage protection; drug trafficking and environmental protection.
Adeniyi also mentioned that the service was strengthening its technological infrastructure through the integration of geospatial technology, advanced detection methods, and the deployment of sophisticated scanning systems at key ports.
“Looking ahead, guided by this year’s theme, our strategic vision aligns seamlessly with President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s policy direction and global customs best practices. These focus on transformative initiatives that will revolutionise trade facilitation and enforcement,” he said.
He continued, “The nationwide trade modernisation deployment, comprehensive AEO programme implementation, enhanced technology-driven risk management, and the groundbreaking establishment of the NCS University for Trade and Technology will serve as additional key performance indicators as we evaluate our achievements at the end of the year.”
CGC Adeniyi also highlighted other major strides, particularly the successful implementation of the Advanced Ruling System, which provides binding decisions on classification and valuation before shipment arrival. This, he said, has significantly reduced clearance delays and disputes.
“Late last year, we announced the indigenous development and deployment of our customs clearance platform, ‘B’Odogwu’, which has already processed transactions worth billions in revenue within its pilot phase,” he revealed.
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The NCS has also strengthened its intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities, implementing technology-driven risk assessment protocols. “We remain vigilant against bulk cash smuggling, trade-based money laundering, and illicit trafficking of high-value commodities.
“Our enforcement efforts also safeguard against the illicit trafficking of cultural objects and artifacts, particularly in light of increasing global concerns about trafficking from conflict zones. Furthermore, we have intensified our response to evolving narcotics threats, particularly addressing the shift from traditional narcotics to pharmaceutical and synthetic drug abuse.
“n 2024, this resulted in 105 seizures of narcotics and illicit drugs. Likewise, our enforcement actions against wildlife trafficking, illegal timber trade, and hazardous waste smuggling saw significant success, with 76 seizures of animal and wildlife products valued at ₦5.93 billion.”
Speaking at the event, WCO Secretary-General, Ian Saunders, noted that customs administrations worldwide celebrate Customs Day to honour the dedication of their personnel, educate the public about customs’ mission, and engage decision-makers in securing necessary resources to address emerging challenges effectively.
He explained that the occasion also allows their WCO to highlight key focus areas where member countries are encouraged to take action. “This may be a topic of particular concern to societies around the world or an approach identified as key to advancing Customs’ mission.
“The objectives remain the same: to promote the standards and guidelines created by the WCO and ensure that they are translated into real-world practices.” For 2025, Saunders stated that the WCO is emphasizing the need to turn commitments into tangible actions that enhance trade facilitation, security, and sustainable economic growth.
“Efficiency, security, and prosperity are permanent global aims, achieved through continuous efforts to enhance Customs operations. Efficiency, in particular, is powered by modernisation, digital transformation, data-driven operations, and strategic partnerships with both public and private stakeholders.”
“In the security realm, Customs’ activities range from bolstering supply chain security to preventing the movement of illicit goods, combating money laundering, and enhancing crisis preparedness. The ultimate goal—prosperity—depends on fair revenue collection, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, and implementing inclusive policies that consider the diverse needs of the citizens we serve.”
Saunders stressed the importance of making customs’ achievements more visible to governments and the public. “While Customs authorities work daily to improve efficiency, security, and prosperity, we must better communicate how we are taking action and delivering results.
“Many countries have reporting and accountability mechanisms, but these often target a specialised audience. The broader public is not always aware of Customs’ contributions to societal well-being.” To address this, Saunders said the WCO is committed to improving communication by telling “compelling, people-centred stories” that blend data with narrative to engage, educate, and inspire.
General Musa, in his remarks, commended the NCS for its professionalism and its role in driving economic growth, security, and prosperity. He emphasised the need for sustained collaboration between the NCS and other security agencies through reinforced partnerships, knowledge sharing, and collective expertise to enhance Customs operations and strengthen national security.
Without gainsaying, Nigeria’s participation in the global celebration of Customs Day underscores its commitment to aligning with international best practices in trade facilitation, border security, and economic advancement. As a vital player in the global supply chain, the Nigeria Customs’ engagement in this annual event not only reinforces its role in safeguarding the nation’s economic interests, but also highlights its dedication to fostering seamless trade, curbing illicit activities, and embracing technological innovations that drive efficiency.
*Mahmud, Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, can be reached via: [email protected].*
