Compliance Fuels Kano Customs’ ₦100bn Revenue Surge as Free Trade Zone Delivers ₦50bn
Compliance Fuels Kano Customs’ ₦100bn Revenue Surge as Free Trade Zone Delivers ₦50bn
By Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Kano/Jigawa Area Command has generated more than ₦100 billion in revenue between January and the first week of October 2026, with the Kano Free Trade Zone (KFTZ) alone contributing ₦50 billion.
The performance underscores how improved compliance, tighter enforcement and streamlined processes are translating into stronger government receipts while supporting legitimate trade.
Acting Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Usman Umar Adamu, attributed the results to a deliberate shift toward voluntary compliance among stakeholders, reinforced by more effective enforcement and operational reforms that have made Customs procedures faster and clearer.
He noted that the Free Trade Zone now accounts for a substantial share of the command’s collections, reflecting both the expanding activity of businesses operating inside the zone and the critical role of regulatory adherence in sustaining economic growth.
According to Adamu, the command has intensified engagement with importers, manufacturers and other operators. These interactions focus on clarifying obligations under the law—particularly accurate cargo classification, correct duty payment and complete documentation—so that compliance becomes the default rather than an afterthought.
He stressed that the command continues to strike a deliberate balance between robust enforcement and genuine trade facilitation. Efficient Customs operations, he said, can simultaneously protect revenue and create an environment in which compliant businesses can grow.
Monitoring and enforcement activities have been strengthened to deter non-compliance, while legitimate traders are actively encouraged to use formal channels.
The outcome so far demonstrates that when compliance is treated as a shared priority rather than a burden, both government revenue and private-sector activity can advance together.
