The Senate Committee on Customs and Excise has expressed satisfaction with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) over its performance in revenue generation and contributions to national economic development.
This commendation followed an oversight visit to the Kano/Jigawa Area Command on 16 May 2025. The Committee was warmly received by the Zonal Coordinator Zone B, ACG AAS Oloyede and the Comptrollers within the zone.
Speaking during the visit, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Isah Jibrin praised the operations of the Command, stating, “What we see in Kano is impressive. It clearly shows that the NCS is actively contributing to the growth of Nigeria’s economy. It remains one of the nation’s top revenue-generating agencies.”
He urged the Service to block all revenue leakages and intensify anti-smuggling activities in order to generate more revenue and secure the nation’s economy.
In his welcome address, the Zonal Coordinator welcomed the committee to the Zone and acknowledged the Senators’ important role in lawmaking and national oversight.
He emphasized that the Service is open to comments, corrections, and advice aimed at improving performance, and appreciated the support received from stakeholders and traditional institutions in the Zone.
The ACG sadly stated that the Zone recently lost two officers in a bandit attack at Kebbi Command, during which all property was destroyed.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Chief Superintendent of Customs, TY BALARABE, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dalhatu Abubakar, presented a detailed account of the Command’s activities and achievements since his assumption of office in February 2025 as follows;
Revenue Performance:
The Controller disclosed that in the first quarter of 2025, the Command collected over ₦31.4 billion, with ₦6 billion generated from the Kano Free Trade Zone, as against ₦459.45 million collected from the Zone in the first quarter of 2024.
Anti-Smuggling Activities:
The Command seized 13 items, including 491,100 tablets of Tramadol. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items amounted to ₦522.47 million. Comptroller Abubakar also stated that the Command made two separate seizures of undeclared United States dollars and other foreign currencies at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, worth over $1 million. The seizure was in line with Anti-Money Laundering regulations and was described as the highest of its kind.
The Controller stated that sensitization and capacity building for both stakeholders and officers have been his focal points since assumption of duty. These initiatives, he noted, have enhanced the Command’s operations and contributed to the achievements recorded.
The Senate Committee also held a meeting with stakeholders, who commended the Command and the Service for their Customs processes and procedures. However, they highlighted challenges such as network downtime and poor road infrastructure, which affect trade facilitation. The Committee promised to engage the relevant parties to address these issues.
The Committee visited the Kano Free Trade Zone (KFTZ), where they were received by the Acting Director of the Zone, Mr. Richard Bassey, who conducted a tour of the Zone and its enterprises. The Committee also visited Inland Containers Nigeria Limited (ICNL).
During the oversight visit, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) serving at the Kano/Jigawa Area Command presented a short poem titled “The Impact of the Senate Committee on Customs.”
The Senate Committee commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, MFR, for introducing various innovations that has turned around the fortune of NCS in terms of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border control. They also praised him for providing an enabling environment that has allowed the Kano/Jigawa Area Command to achieve such remarkable results in a short time.