–-intercepts cannabis, tramadol, rice, vehicles, elephant tusks, other prohibited goods

Funso Olojo, Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ (FOU ‘A’), Ikeja-Lagos, has dealt a heavy blow to smuggling and revenue fraud, intercepting 220 consignments of prohibited and smuggled goods with a combined Duty Paid Value of N3.24 billion and recovering N728.98 million in lost revenue.

The seizures, recorded through a series of intelligence-driven operations, highlight the escalating battle by the Customs Service to shut down illicit trade routes, protect domestic production and plug revenue leakages arising from false declarations, under-valuation and other customs infractions.

Among the major seizures were 4,956 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50kg each, equivalent to eight trailer loads; 12 foreign-used vehicles; 2,683 parcels of synthetic cannabis (Sativa) weighing 1,439.9kg; 49 parcels of Ghanaian Loud weighing 26.1kg; one parcel of crystal methamphetamine weighing 0.35kg and 13 parcels of granular cannabis weighing 1.35kg.

The Unit also intercepted 240,000 tablets of Tramadol, 12,000 tablets of Hypnox and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg, alongside 964 25-litre jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), representing 24,100 litres.

Other items seized include 26 cartons of foreign vegetable oil, 686 cartons of foreign poultry products, 414 bales of used clothing and 2,947 pieces of used tyres, among other prohibited and smuggled goods.

The Comptroller of FOU ‘A’, Gambo Aliyu, said the N728.98 million revenue recovery represented an important component of the Unit’s enforcement mandate, particularly its efforts to recover government revenue lost through fraudulent trade declarations.

Aliyu warned importers, exporters and licensed customs agents against deliberate attempts to short-change the government, urging them to make accurate declarations and comply fully with applicable customs laws and regulations.

He said the Unit would continue to facilitate legitimate commerce but would show no mercy to operators involved in smuggling, revenue evasion and other forms of economic sabotage.

According to him, the latest seizures demonstrate the importance of intelligence gathering, risk profiling, inter-agency collaboration and intelligence fusion in dismantling sophisticated smuggling networks.

He attributed the Unit’s operational successes to improved intelligence capabilities and cooperation from sister agencies, stakeholders, border communities and members of the public.

Beyond the revenue implications, the seizures have significant economic and public-safety consequences.

The interception of foreign rice, poultry products, vegetable oil, used clothing, tyres and foreign-used vehicles is expected to provide additional protection for local manufacturers and producers already battling the effects of illicit imports.

Similarly, the seizure of large quantities of cannabis, tramadol, crystal methamphetamine and other controlled substances underscores the Customs Service’s growing role in preventing the movement of illicit drugs and potentially harmful pharmaceutical products through Nigeria’s trade corridors.

The recovery of the elephant tusks also reinforces the Service’s contribution to the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking and the protection of endangered species.

Aliyu, however, stressed that FOU ‘A’ was not at war with legitimate trade, insisting that its enforcement strategy was built around striking a balance between strong border control and trade facilitation.

He assured compliant traders that the Service remained committed to a fair, predictable and transparent trading environment, while warning that the Unit would sustain its zero-tolerance posture towards smuggling and revenue fraud.

The Customs boss called for stronger partnership with the business community and the general public, noting that sustained intelligence sharing and vigilance were critical to consolidating the gains recorded in revenue recovery, border security, public safety and economic protection.

He said the NCS, through FOU ‘A’, would continue to align its enforcement operations with the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda by protecting domestic production, promoting compliance, facilitating legitimate trade and blocking the circulation of prohibited and harmful goods.

Monday Discourse with Nasiru Ibrahim

The official rollout of Phase One of the National Single Window (NSW) was heralded as a monumental leap toward a paperless, automated trade ecosystem.

On paper and within executive dashboards, the achievements are clear: the serialization of Licenses, Certificates, and Permits (LCPO), streamlined electronic manifest transmissions, and integrated risk management for primary regulators like SON and NAFDAC.

Yet, as the steering committee aggressively prepares for the imminent deployment of Phase Two, a severe operational reality check is required.

The claim that the Single Window has successfully “taken off” remains a purely administrative illusion when measured against the brutal, manual friction remaining at our terminal gates.

The core vulnerability of the current transition is the absolute failure to align digital front-end clearances with physical back-end enforcement.

Importers are successfully navigating the centralized National Single Window Portal, obtaining official electronic green lights, only to watch their consignments get trapped by manual human greed the moment the cargo hits the access roads.

Phase Two promises end-to-end electronic customs clearance, full payment digitization, and automated interoperability with the Nigeria Customs Service’s new B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.

However, if the federal administration continues to pour billions into software updates while leaving parallel manual check-points unpunished, Phase Two will simply become a highly expensive digital facade masking an archaic extortion regime.

True trade facilitation is not a technological achievement; it is a direct function of political will.

The integration of advanced platforms like B’Odogwu across major commands like Apapa and Tin Can proves that our regulatory arms possess the technical capability to automate. The problem is cultural and financial.

Entrenched administrative empires are deliberately preserving parallel manual structures because documentation loops, artificial delays, and manufactured compliance flags remain incredibly lucrative.

For the National Single Window to transition from a policy delusion into a genuine economic catalyst, the state must move past cosmetic celebrations.

The presidency must deploy the executive power required to completely outlaw physical interventions outside the approved digital framework and enforce severe punitive consequences for any agency chief who authorizes parallel verification processes.

Until the gate complies with the portal, the National Single Window project remains grounded.

Chief Ibrahim Nasiru, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja

Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter

The Senate Committee on Customs and Excise has commended the far-reaching reforms being implemented by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, describing them as evidence of prudent investment of government resources to reposition the Service for greater efficiency, transparency and improved service delivery.

The commendation came on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a two-day retreat organised by the NCS in collaboration with the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise to strengthen legislative oversight and review the Nigeria Customs Service Act.

As part of the retreat, members of the Committee toured the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they were briefed on the Service’s ongoing modernisation programmes, technology-driven operations and institutional reforms.

Speaking after the tour, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Isah Jibrin, said the visit offered lawmakers an opportunity to witness first-hand the transformation taking place within the NCS.

“We have heard about these reforms from afar, but today we have seen them ourselves.

“The transformation taking place in the NCS is remarkable, particularly in the deployment of technology, modern infrastructure and operational innovations that are repositioning the Service for greater efficiency,” he said.

Jibrin said the retreat had also enabled members of the Committee to gain a clearer understanding of how appropriated funds were being utilised by the Customs Service.

“When the NCS comes before the National Assembly seeking approval for capital expenditure, we now have a clearer understanding of what those resources are being used for.

“The reforms we have seen today clearly demonstrate that government funds are being invested responsibly to strengthen Customs operations, improve trade facilitation and enhance national revenue,” he stated.

Responding, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, attributed the progress recorded by the Service to the deliberate deployment of technology across various aspects of Customs administration and operations.

He said technology had become central to the NCS strategy for improving efficiency, transparency and service delivery.

“Technology helps us to work faster and more efficiently. We started by deploying digital solutions into personnel administration, postings, staff matters and pensions before extending them to our core operational responsibilities, and we will continue until virtually every aspect of Customs operations is technology-driven,” Adeniyi said.

The Customs chief also highlighted the deployment of advanced technology in the Service’s enforcement operations, including virtual shooting simulators, geospatial intelligence and digital surveillance systems.

“We are deploying geospatial intelligence to map our patrol routes and position our checkpoints more efficiently across the country.

“Combined with modern training facilities such as our virtual shooting range, these innovations will significantly strengthen our enforcement capabilities,” he explained.

Adeniyi further disclosed that several of the Service’s modernisation initiatives were backed by provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, stressing that the NCS remained committed to implementing reforms that align its operations with the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda.

“The law requires us to modernise our operations. Initiatives such as the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling, Time Release Study, scanner deployment and other technology-driven reforms are all backed by the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act.

“Our responsibility is to continue implementing them to support the Federal Government’s reform agenda,” he said.

The Senate Committee’s commendation is expected to further strengthen legislative support for the NCS modernisation programme as the Service intensifies efforts to leverage technology, strengthen enforcement, facilitate legitimate trade and boost revenue generation.

The retreat also provided an avenue for lawmakers and Customs management to deepen their understanding of the operational realities of modern Customs administration and the legislative framework required to sustain ongoing reforms.