The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Edo/Delta Area Command, has exceeded its 2025 annual revenue target by 18.48 per cent, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Judith Kanu, has disclosed.

Speaking at a press conference in Warri on Tuesday, where she presented the Command’s performance between January and November 2025, Kanu revealed that although the Command was assigned a revenue target of N102,009,494,547.36 for the 2025 fiscal year, it had generated N125,132,128,108.28 as at November.

“I am delighted to announce that as of November 2025, the Command has not only met but overshot its annual revenue target, recording a total collection of N125,132,128,108.28 between January and November 2025,” she said.

“This represents an increase of 18.48 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2024.”

She provided a breakdown of the revenue figures as follows: import duty – N34,119,760,998.93; excise – N14,713,083,480.15; value added tax (VAT) – N34,540,312,641.07; wheat grain levy – N21,546,848,516.62; federation account contributions (FCS) – N10,720,756,588.27; and other sources – N9,491,365,883.51.

According to Kanu, the impressive performance was driven by improved compliance by importers and agents, enhanced risk management and post-clearance audit processes, wider deployment of technology-driven clearance procedures, and strong internal discipline and professionalism among officers.

She added that, in line with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy and the reform agenda of the Comptroller-General of Customs, the Command had strengthened trade facilitation measures by ensuring faster cargo clearance for compliant traders, reducing human interface through automation and process streamlining, and maintaining open communication with licensed customs agents, terminal operators and importers.

“These measures have helped to build trust, reduce delays and encourage voluntary compliance, which in turn has positively impacted revenue generation,” she noted.

The Customs Area Controller also disclosed that the Command had continued to prioritise stakeholder engagement through regular consultative meetings, sensitisation forums, dispute-resolution mechanisms and courtesy visits to traditional rulers, including the Olu of Warri, the Orodje of Okpe and the Asagba of Asaba.

She added that sister security and regulatory agencies were equally engaged, a move she said had strengthened inter-agency collaboration and reduced operational conflicts.

However, Kanu identified several challenges affecting optimal performance, including inadequate manpower at the junior officer level, a shortage of operational vehicles for effective patrol, and insufficient office equipment such as computers, printers and photocopying machines.

Despite these constraints, she reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining revenue growth while facilitating legitimate trade and supporting national economic objectives.