POLITICAL Economy

Customs Borno/Yobe Generates N622.3m Revenue In Six Months

by admin on | 2026-09-01 11:28:13

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Customs Borno/Yobe Generates N622.3m Revenue In Six Months

By Ahmad Sirajo Makama

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Borno/Yobe Area Command, generated N622.3 million in revenue between January and June 2026, representing an 8.9 per cent increase over the corresponding period in 2025.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Muhammad Idris, disclosed this in Maiduguri while addressing the press.

Idris said the increase was recorded through improved revenue generation, trade facilitation and intensified efforts to suppress smuggling.

Idris, who assumed office as the 29th Area Controller of the command on Dec. 9, 2025, said his administration’s approach was anchored on the three-point agenda of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, which is consolidation, collaboration and innovation.

According to him, he embarked on courtesy visits to key stakeholders, including government agencies, traders, traditional rulers and communities in Borno and Yobe shortly after assuming office.

He said the engagements strengthened collaboration and helped to rebuild confidence in the Customs Service, particularly in an area that had experienced years of insurgency.

Idris said the improved relationship with stakeholders had enhanced compliance and contributed to faster clearance processes at the command.

“Once you speed up the clearance process, there will be more volume of trade, and with more volume of trade, more revenue will be generated,” he said.

The comptroller said the peculiar security situation in Borno and Yobe States required effective collaboration between the Customs Service and other security and regulatory agencies, listing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian Army among agencies collaborating with the command.

According to him, the agencies share intelligence and relevant information to strengthen border management and security.

“Knowing fully well the peculiarities of the command, we operate amidst counter-insurgency operations. We must collaborate with sister organisations if we want our work to be done successfully,” Idris said.

He said the collaboration had contributed to the command’s ability to detect and prevent smuggling while facilitating legitimate trade.

The comptroller also said he organised a sensitisation lecture for officers on integrity and accountability shortly after assuming office, saying maintaining integrity was critical to building trust between Customs officers, traders and other stakeholders.

Idris added that the command had intensified the training and retraining of personnel, particularly on new Customs policies and procedures.

Idris said the NCS had continued to automate its processes and integrate relevant data to make customs clearance more efficient.

The comptroller further said Customs offices under the command operated round the clock to ensure prompt attention to legitimate traders.

He identified insecurity, smuggling, intelligence gathering, border management and trade facilitation as some of the major challenges confronting the command.

Idris said the challenges were interconnected, noting that the command had to balance revenue generation, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations while operating in a challenging security environment.

He said the command remained committed to carrying out its statutory responsibilities through sustained collaboration with security agencies and other stakeholders.

According to him, intelligence sharing, professional conduct and improved trade facilitation would remain critical to achieving the objectives of the Customs Service in Borno and Yobe.