The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated its commitment to developing strategies to address challenges affecting businesses, cross-border activities and revenue collection in Niger State.
The Zonal Coordinator, Zone B of the Nigeria Customs Service, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Nsikak Umoh, stated this in Minna, the Niger State capital, during the continuation of the Service’s periodic consultation and stakeholders’ engagement across the zone.
Umoh was at the Niger/Kogi Area Command headquarters in Niger State as part of the ongoing zonal oversight aimed at assessing operational readiness and strengthening the Service’s mandate across Zone B.
During the visit, the Zonal Coordinator interacted with officers and personnel of the command and also engaged stakeholders in the state as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration with critical stakeholders, facilitate legitimate trade and improve revenue collection.
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The stakeholders’ engagement focused on operational procedures within the Free Trade Zone, anti-smuggling efforts, as well as strategies for addressing challenges affecting businesses and cross-border activities in the state.
However, stakeholders at the meeting called on the Nigeria Customs Service to reopen the Babanna border, which they said had been closed since 2018.
They argued that the prolonged closure of the border had negatively affected economic activities and legitimate trade among communities along the border.
The stakeholders appealed to the Customs Service and relevant authorities to reconsider the closure and explore measures that would facilitate legitimate cross-border trade while maintaining effective border security and anti-smuggling operations.
On revenue generation, ACG Nsikak Umoh commended the Niger/Kogi Area Command for surpassing its revenue target of N17 million, noting that the command had generated about N200 million as of August 12, 2026.
He said the performance demonstrated the commitment of officers and men of the command to meeting the revenue-collection mandate of the Service.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the Nigeria Customs Service and stakeholders to explore practical measures to promote legitimate trade, strengthen revenue collection and enhance border security across Niger State.
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