The Nigeria Customs Service says that it intercepted 76 seizures of animal/wildlife products valued at N5.93bn in 2024.
In a statement on Monday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated this while speaking at the International Customs Day 2025.
Adeniyi added that the service has intensified its response to evolving narcotics threats.
He stressed that the NCS has particularly addressed the shift from traditional narcotics to pharmaceutical and synthetic drug abuse.
Adeniyi, however, mentioned that the move resulted in 105 seizures of narcotics and illicit drugs by the service in 2024.
“Our enforcement actions against wildlife trafficking, illegal timber trade, and hazardous waste smuggling saw significant success, with 76 seizures of animal/wildlife products valued at N5.93bn,” Adeniyi said.
According to him, the occasion provides the service a vital platform to evaluate its achievements in the preceding year, “reinforce our commitments, and strategically position ourselves for the evolving demands of customs administration across nations.”
He stated that the event perfectly encapsulated the foundational mandates of the NCS.
The CGC mentioned that the service’s strategic approach harmoniously balances trade facilitation with robust security measures, directly contributing to Nigeria’s economic advancement.
According to him, the successful implementation of the Advanced Ruling System provided binding decisions on classification and valuation before shipment arrival.
He added that the platform also reduced clearance delays and disputes.
“The remarkable success of our AEO programme, which has achieved an average release time of 43 hours for certified companies, representing a 66.9 per cent reduction in cargo clearance time is another recent instance,” he said.
Adeniyi pointed out that over the years the service has modernised its processes to make the trading experience soothing for Nigerians.
He stated that the service’s unprecedented achievement of N6.1tn in revenue, coupled with significant security interventions, shows their commitment to these mandates.
Adeniyi emphasised that the revenue which exceeded targets by 20.2 per cent, represented a 90.4 per cent year-over-year increase.
Adeniyi emphasised that in pursuit of operational efficiency, the service has made significant strides in modernising its processes and procedures.
GIK/APA