By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been recognized for its vital contribution to Nigeria’s economic recovery, with expectations that the agency will play a central role in achieving the Federal Government’s ambitious ₦48 trillion budget target for 2025.
Speaking at the 61st quarterly board meeting of the NCS on December 18, 2024, at the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Olawale Edun, praised the agency’s performance.
The meeting followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent presentation of the 2025 budget to the National Assembly, labeled “A Budget of Restoration.”
The budget projects ₦35 trillion in revenue, with the NCS having already generated over ₦5 trillion by November 2024. Commending the agency’s efforts, Mr. Edun stated, “The NCS and other revenue bodies have performed remarkably well,” attributing their success to reforms initiated by President Tinubu.
To cover the remaining ₦13 trillion in the proposed budget, Mr. Edun revealed that the government plans to secure concessionary loans, grants, and development support.During the board meeting, the NCS’s achievements in 2024 were reviewed, and the recruitment of 3,927 officers was approved.
Special promotions were also granted to top-performing personnel to address manpower gaps and improve trade facilitation.
“The NCS has excelled in suppressing smuggling and fostering trade, crucial for growth and job creation,” the Minister noted.
Mr. Edun concluded by urging Customs officers to maintain their commitment to national objectives, emphasizing the agency’s pivotal role in reducing poverty and driving economic growth.