By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for its unprecedented revenue performance and technological transformation, charging the agency to set global benchmarks in trade facilitation.

Oyedele said the Customs Service generated N4.03 trillion in the first half of 2026, with an additional N1.38 trillion recorded in July and August, bringing its revenue collection to N5.41 trillion within the first eight months of the year.

The minister spoke on September 2, 2026, during his inaugural board meeting and facility tour of the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, where he praised the leadership and personnel of the Service for strengthening revenue generation, modernising operations and improving trade processes.

He said the NCS remained firmly on course to achieve its ambitious N11 trillion revenue target for 2026, attributing the performance to aggressive automation, intelligence-led reforms and improved cargo-processing strategies under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.

Oyedele, who expressed satisfaction with the Service’s modern intelligence tools and technological infrastructure, said the reforms had positioned Customs to play a greater role in transforming Nigeria’s trade environment.

According to him, the Service’s achievements should serve as a foundation for Nigeria to assume a leading position in regional and global trade.

“Results are precisely what should propel us to do more,” the minister said, stressing the need for Customs to build on its achievements by establishing world-class standards in port efficiency, end-to-end transparency, faster cargo clearance and revenue integrity.

He added: “Nigeria must lead through performance, not rhetoric.”

Oyedele reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to supporting the NCS with cutting-edge technology, modern operational equipment and appropriate policy backing.

He said such support would enable the Service to consolidate its reforms and emerge as one of Africa’s premier trade-facilitation institutions.

The minister’s commendation comes amid intensified efforts by the Federal Government to boost non-oil revenue, improve the ease of doing business and strengthen the efficiency and transparency of Nigeria’s ports and border operations.