Nigeria Customs Service Shifts to Post Clearance Audits

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is shifting from extensive physical inspections of cargoes to Post Clearance Audits (PCA) to improve trade facilitation, compliance, and revenue assurance. This announcement was made by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, during a PCA sensitization program for stakeholders in Lagos.

The NCS collected N7.281 trillion in 2025, exceeding its target of N6.584 trillion by N697 billion, marking a 19% increase from the N6.1 trillion collected in 2024. The revenue target for 2026 is set at N11.074 trillion, with N4.30 trillion already collected by the end of June.

Adeniyi emphasized that PCA would allow Customs to verify compliance records after goods are released, reducing delays and focusing resources on high-risk traders. A study at Tin Can Island Port revealed that containers spent an average of five days in the port, with delays attributed to manual processes and coordination issues.

Adeniyi stated that PCA is an internationally recognized customs control mechanism.