The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is actively working to bolster its collaboration with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) in a move aimed at increasing national revenue and enhancing the professional development of its officers.
This development comes on the back of a significant increase in Customs revenue, signaling the effectiveness of the service’s strategies.
On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, hosted a courtesy visit from Shamsudeen Ogunjimi, the newly appointed Accountant-General of the Federation. The visit took place at the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where the two leaders discussed the importance of strengthening fiscal collaboration between their agencies.
In a statement shared via the official Customs Twitter (now X) account, Adeniyi described the visit as a “timely, symbolic, and remarkable move” aimed at reinforcing the financial and operational ties between the two institutions.
“The visit is a timely, symbolic, and remarkable move towards tying fiscal collaboration between the two government institutions,” said Adeniyi.
The CGC acknowledged the current economic challenges, especially regarding public revenue generation, and assured Ogunjimi of the NCS’s commitment to overcoming these obstacles. He noted that the Service was strategically focused on operational discipline and innovation to improve its contributions to the country’s financial stability.
“We have seen how critical revenue generation is in this country, and we are doing our best from our part,” Adeniyi added.
Reflecting on the Service’s recent performance, Adeniyi pointed out that NCS revenue had increased by over 70% before the end of 2024, underscoring the agency’s determination to support the government’s financial goals.
In addition, Adeniyi congratulated Ogunjimi on his new role and praised his proactive stance on enhancing inter-agency collaboration. Responding positively to Ogunjimi’s proposal for a joint training program between the two agencies, Adeniyi expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing that it would promote capacity building and improve inter-agency cooperation.
Ogunjimi, in his remarks, commended Adeniyi’s leadership and the Customs Service’s efforts in revenue generation. He assured Adeniyi of his office’s commitment to fostering strong institutional linkages to support greater transparency, accountability, and capacity building within Nigeria’s public financial system.
“This collaboration has just started, and I want to assure you that it is going to be robust,” Ogunjimi remarked, adding that he hoped for more engagement between their teams.
He proposed that some Customs officers be engaged in training at the AGF’s office to foster better understanding and cooperation between the two bodies.
The strengthened relationship between NCS and the AGF’s office signals a positive step towards improving fiscal discipline, building capacities across both agencies, and ultimately contributing to the financial health of the country.
