‎The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has called on the Senate Committee on Customs to deepen its oversight of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) by focusing on reforms, data-driven governance and institutional performance rather than individual transactions. He made the call on Wednesday while declaring open a two-day retreat for the committee in Abuja with the theme, “Legislative Oversight in the Context of Nigeria Customs Service Modernisation and Reforms.”

‎Adeniyi said the retreat was designed to strengthen collaboration between the legislature and the Customs Service by giving lawmakers a better understanding of the reforms underway. According to him, effective oversight requires a clear appreciation of the systems driving the Service’s operations rather than periodic engagements centred only on budgets, revenue performance and accountability hearings.

‎Highlighting the impact of ongoing reforms, the Customs boss disclosed that the Service generated ₦7.277 trillion in revenue in 2025, exceeding its target by 10.24 per cent, while collections between January and May 2026 reached ₦3.35 trillion. He attributed the performance to improved systems and technology-driven processes, stressing that sustainable revenue growth should be measured by institutional efficiency rather than economic factors such as currency adjustments.

He said the Service’s modernisation programme is replacing manual processes with automated, rules-based systems that reduce human discretion, improve transparency and enhance accountability. Adeniyi noted that initiatives such as the Trade Modernisation Project and the deployment of the B’Odogwu platform are creating electronic audit trails that make every transaction traceable and easier to monitor.

The Comptroller-General commended the National Assembly for enacting the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, describing it as the legal foundation for the Service’s transformation. He said the legislation introduced modern customs procedures, including electronic processing, advance rulings, Authorised Economic Operator status and a sustainable funding framework, while urging lawmakers to review the Act in light of lessons from its three years of implementation.

‎Adeniyi further urged the Senate Committee to adapt its oversight approach to the realities of a digital Customs administration by scrutinising system design, risk management, cargo clearance timelines, valuation databases and exemption policies. He maintained that access to operational data and system architecture would enable lawmakers to exercise more effective oversight and support evidence-based policymaking.

The Customs chief also called for sustained legislative backing to protect ongoing reforms from undue interference, warning that automation often faces resistance because it limits discretionary powers. He urged lawmakers to focus on measurable outcomes, safeguard the integrity of automated systems, review the country’s import waiver regime and maintain regular engagement with the Service to ensure the reforms deliver lasting benefits for Nigeria’s trade and economic development.