By Ralph Omololu Agbana.
Member of the House of Representatives for Yagba Federal Constituency, Kogi State and Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise, Leke Abejide has called for comprehensive reforms to strengthen the operations of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), stressing the need for greater efficiency, legislative intervention, and enhanced security collaboration.
Abejide made the call while attending the 2026 International Customs Day and the official launch of the Time Release Study (TRS) in Abuja on Monday.
themed “Customs Protecting Society through Vigilance and Commitment”, the lawmaker in his remarks referenced a statement by the Secretary-General of the World Customs Organization, noting that despite Customs’ strategic position at national borders, its crucial contribution to the security and welfare of society is often misunderstood.
He questioned what Nigerian society would look like without Customs, adding that although the Service continues to position itself to secure borders, prevailing challenges in the country highlight the need for stronger institutional support.
According to him, Customs must be fully integrated into national security meetings due to its role in border management, public safety, procedural reforms, and partnership building.
Abejide also raised concerns over gaps in the newly launched “Time Release Study”, particularly regarding delays linked to the Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) policy. He explained that while the Federal Government introduced the policy to reduce costs for critical imports such as pharmaceuticals and agricultural machinery, bureaucratic bottlenecks across ministries have rendered the policy ineffective.
“The time spent processing support letters, IDEC approvals, and final clearance from the Ministry of Finance now exceeds the time it takes cargo to travel from China to Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that while terminal operators and shipping companies benefit from prolonged cargo dwell times, stakeholders such as licensed customs agents, importers, and the Federal Government suffer significant losses.
The lawmaker emphasized that only legislative action could resolve these challenges, proposing the invitation of the Ministers of Finance and Trade and Investment to address the delays and fast-track approval processes. He warned that Customs is losing trillions of naira annually due to these inefficiencies, losses which could be curtailed through proper regulation to boost government revenue.
Reaffirming his support for the NCS, Abejide said he would continue to back initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and operational capacity of Customs officers.
“Anything that enhances the performance and welfare of Customs officers has my full support. Their efforts to organize and improve operations show a commitment to doing better, and as lawmakers, we must support them to succeed,” he stated.
Comptroller General of the NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, announced revenue of N7.28 trillion for 2025, surpassing the agency’s target by N697 billion.
Adeniyi said, “These gains came not from arbitrary impositions or compromising legitimate traders, but from improved compliance, better data use, digital tools, and disciplined enforcement.”
He said that the initial target of N6.5 trillion for 2025 was exceeded by over 10 per cent, emphasising that the achievement resulted from deepening collaboration with the private sector while upholding trade facilitation commitments.
The CG added that this year’s theme, ‘Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment,’ reflects a significant milestone in the NCS’s mission to protect society while facilitating lawful trade.
