51 certified firms lift collections by nearly 30% as compliance and trade volumes improve….
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a sharp rise in revenue under its Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, with collections increasing from ₦1.222 trillion before certification to ₦1.585 trillion after certification.
The ₦362.79 billion jump, a 29.68 per cent increase covers 51 AEO-certified entities as of October 27, 2025, according to a statement issued on February 19, 2026, by National Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Maiwada on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs.
The Service disclosed that the AEO programme accounted for 21.77 per cent of its total ₦7.281 trillion revenue collection in 2025. Customs duties paid by participating firms surged by 85.66 per cent, driven by stronger compliance and higher volumes of legitimate trade.
Strong Compliance Metrics
Maiwada said findings from the AEO Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) report showed an average compliance rate of 85.45 per cent among certified operators, with some achieving 100 per cent compliance.
He noted that the evaluation process followed rigorous and transparent methodologies consistent with the World Customs Organization SAFE Framework of Standards and the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Faster Clearance, Lower Costs
Beyond revenue gains, the programme delivered measurable trade facilitation benefits:
- Average cargo clearance time reduced from 168 hours to 41 hours — a 75.6 per cent improvement
- Company operating costs declined by 57.2 per cent
- Demurrage payments dropped by 90 per cent
- Overall trade efficiency improved by 77.11 per cent through digitalisation and risk management reforms
The Service commended several companies — including PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Bottling Company Limited and MTN Nigeria Communications Plc — for voluntarily remitting over ₦1 billion into the Federation Account following internal transaction reviews and disclosures.
Zero Tolerance for Abuse
However, the NCS also revealed that a recently certified AEO operator was discovered to have engaged in false declaration of consignments.
Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi ordered the immediate suspension of the company’s AEO status in line with existing guidelines and Section 112 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The action underscores the Service’s position that while the AEO framework rewards trusted operators with expedited processes and fewer inspections, it will not hesitate to enforce sanctions where violations occur.
Why It Matters
The AEO programme — backed by the World Customs Organization — is a voluntary certification scheme designed to strengthen supply chain security while promoting seamless trade.
Certified operators benefit from:
- Faster customs processing
- Reduced inspections
- Lower logistics and demurrage costs
- Greater predictability in cargo movement
In August 2025, the NCS directed all companies under the former Fast-Track Scheme to migrate to the AEO framework by December 31, 2025, as part of broader reforms to modernise Nigeria’s customs operations and align with global best practices.
With revenue climbing and clearance times sharply reduced, the latest figures suggest the programme is becoming a central pillar in Nigeria’s push to balance tighter compliance with more efficient trade facilitation.
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