The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Leke Abejide, has raised concerns over administrative delays undermining trade facilitation, calling for legislative intervention to address bottlenecks linked to the Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) policy.

Abejide, who represents Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, spoke on Monday in Abuja at the 2026 International Customs Day and the launch of the Time Release Study (TRS), an initiative designed to measure cargo clearance timelines and identify obstacles within the import process.

Referring to the theme of the event, “Customs Protecting Society through Vigilance and Commitment,” the lawmaker cited remarks by the Secretary-General of the World Customs Organization on the often misunderstood role of Customs at national borders. He said the challenges facing Nigeria’s border management system underscore the need for stronger institutional backing for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

According to him, Customs should be fully integrated into national security deliberations, given its responsibilities in border control, public safety, procedural reforms and stakeholder partnerships. He added that prevailing security and economic pressures require closer collaboration between Customs and other security agencies.

Abejide said findings from the newly launched Time Release Study revealed gaps, particularly delays associated with IDEC approvals. He noted that the policy, introduced to lower import costs for essential goods such as pharmaceuticals and agricultural machinery, has been weakened by bureaucratic processes across government ministries.
“The time spent processing support letters, IDEC approvals, and final clearance from the Ministry of Finance now exceeds the time it takes cargo to travel from China to Nigeria,” he said.

He argued that extended cargo dwell times benefit terminal operators and shipping companies, while licensed customs agents, importers and government revenue suffer losses. He maintained that resolving the issue would require legislative engagement, including summoning the Ministers of Finance and of Trade and Investment to address approval delays.

Abejide warned that inefficiencies linked to the process were costing the country trillions of naira annually, losses he said could be reduced through clearer regulation and faster approval mechanisms. He reaffirmed his support for reforms aimed at improving the welfare and operational capacity of Customs officers.

“Anything that enhances the performance and welfare of Customs officers has my full support. Their efforts to organise and improve operations show a commitment to doing better, and as lawmakers, we must support them to succeed,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Comptroller General of the NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, announced that the Service generated N7.28 trillion in revenue in 2025, exceeding its target by N697 billion.

“These gains came not from arbitrary impositions or compromising legitimate traders, but from improved compliance, better data use, digital tools, and disciplined enforcement,” Adeniyi said.

He added that the original revenue target of N6.5 trillion was surpassed by more than 10 per cent, attributing the outcome to closer collaboration with the private sector and adherence to trade facilitation commitments. Adeniyi said the theme of this year’s celebration reflects the NCS’s focus on balancing border security with the facilitation of lawful trade.