NCS Granted Over N60 Billion Customs Duty Concessions In 2025 To Attract Diaspora Investment As It Forges Strategic Alliance With NIDCOM

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has expressed readiness to partner with Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), to deepen diaspora engagements, facilitate humanitarian interventions, and support strategic investments by Nigerians abroad.

This commitment was made during a courtesy visit by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, NiDCOM to the Service Headquarters in Abuja, where both agencies reaffirmed the importance of structured collaboration in advancing national development.

Speaking during the visit, Dabiri-Erewa informed the Comptroller General on the preparations for this year’s Nigeria Diaspora Day, whose focus is on Diaspora Health Impact Initiative 2026 (DHII 2026) scheduled for July 20-23, 2026, across multiple states in Nigeria as part of the National Diaspora Day celebrations on July 25 and 26 in Abuja.

Dabiri-Erewa highlighted challenges faced by diaspora Nigerians who import medical equipment and relief materials for genuine humanitarian purposes in the country.

She called for the establishment of a structured framework to support legitimate diaspora interventions, including waivers for medical and educational equipment.

Under the initiative, seven major diaspora medical associations will be deployed to designated regions across the country to conduct medical outreaches and specialised training.

The associations will cover various spheres of medicine across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones before rounding off in Abuja for National Diaspora Day 2026.

Dabiri-Erewa appealed to the Service for seamless collaboration in participating at the 2026 Diaspora Day, clearing medical equipment and supplies to be brought in for the outreach, while also seeking moral, financial, and institutional support for the event.

She used the opportunity to invite the Comptroller General to participate in the Diaspora Quarterly Lecture Series, which attracts thousands of participants and to be physically present at the Global Diaspora Summit scheduled to hold in Canada on August 12, 2026.

She also proposed joint training initiatives, including sensitisation programs for Customs officers on the diaspora phenomenon and capacity-building support for NiDCOM staff.

In his response, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi commended NiDCOM for its impactful work over the past six years in projecting a positive image of Nigerians globally and strengthening ties between the diaspora and the Nigerian government.

He explained that while revenue generation remains a core mandate of the Service, the NCS has become increasingly deliberate about trade facilitation to improve turnaround time, reduce the cost of doing business, and ultimately enhance revenue performance.

He said in the last three years, the Service under his command has developed guidelines to create dedicated corridors for perishable and life-saving goods at ports and airports.

“We will be willing to do anything for them that will enhance development back home and our reputation abroad as enablers and NOT Impediments to their progress”, he assured.

He affirmed that similar considerations would apply to genuine humanitarian and medical outreach materials, subject to due process and proper documentation, including Import Duty Exemption Certificates (IDEC) from the Ministry of Finance.

The CG further referenced healthcare sector concessions introduced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in 2025 to reduce medical costs, discourage medical tourism, and attract diaspora investment.

He disclosed that in 2025 alone, over ₦60 billion in Customs duty concessions were granted to entities involved in manufacturing or importing healthcare delivery systems.

“This is an area we would like Nigerians in the diaspora to key into. Government is deliberately giving up revenue to encourage investment in healthcare. We can have discussions with those interested,” he stated.

While cautioning against abuse of humanitarian channels, the CG assured that the Service would continue discussions with NiDCOM to establish clear processes that distinguish genuine interventions from misuse.

He welcomed NiDCOM’s proposal for joint training and announced that the Service already operates a help desk, which can also serve as a focal point within the Service to specifically handle diaspora-related matters.

Also in attendance were top senior officers of the Nigeria Customs Service and management team from NiDCOM.

The meeting marks a significant step toward institutionalizing structured engagement between Customs and Nigeria’s diaspora community, reinforcing the Federal Government’s commitment to harnessing diaspora contributions for national growth and development.