Connect with us

Customs

Nigeria’s business community lauds Customs performance in Q1 2026, seeks improvement in service delivery 

Funso OLOJO,Editor 
The critical section of stakeholders in the maritime and aviation industries have expressed satisfaction with the level of performance, service delivery and discipline among officers in the Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Their commendation was based of the performances of all the commands in the Zone in the last three months
Customs Commands in Zone ‘A’ are those located across the six states of the South west geopolitical zone, at the land, airport and sea port borders.
Some of the prominent Commands in Zone ‘A’ include the Apapa  Port Command, Tincan Island Port (TCIP) Command,  Ports and Terminals Multi-Services Limited (PTML) Command, Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command and the Western Marine Command.
 Others are the Ijora Export Terminal, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Murtala Mohammed Cargo Airport Command, Seme Border Command, Idiroko Border Command, Ogun State, the Oyo/Osun Command and Ondo Command.
Many stakeholders who volunteered comments on the scorecard of the NCS Commands in Zone ‘A’ within the first three months of the year, said although Customs officers needed to improve in their service delivery, they however rated their performance high within the period under review.
The assessment focused mainly on resumption time, closing time, prompt attention to, and resolution of complaints from the business community, physical appearance, trade facilitation and revenue generation.
Many stakeholders scored the NCS in the Zone high on resumption time and closing time.
According to them, in most of the Commands,  resumption time and closing time, as well as prompt response to complaints and physical appearance of officers are rated grade A.
A respondent, Uju Clifford, a freight forwarder who plies his business between the Seme Border Command and Apapa Area 1 Command, said he felt sorry for Customs officers because most of them resumed as early as 7.45 am and closed around 8 PM.
Clifford narrated a story of how his container was one day detained at the FOU for issues that related to documentation, but when he rushed to the Command in the evening to sort out the cargo, he witnessed that some officers closed by 8 PM. He said he felt sorry for the officers.
Clifford, who hinted that he normally pursues his jobs till late in the evening at the Apapa Area 1 Command, added that under the present management of the NCS led by Bashir Adewale Adeniyi,the Comptroller- General of the Nigeria Customs service, he has witnessed the highest level of discipline among officers.
 According to him, “They look neat and decent. They talk to us politely, not like those days when they shouted at us. I commend the leadership of the current CG”.
The NCS has continued to demonstrate resilience and efficiency in the first and second quarters of 2026, with its performance scorecard reflecting strong achievements in revenue collection, enforcement, compliance, and strategic seizures across major commands.
Stakeholders were unanimous that from the Apapa Area Command to Tin Can Island and the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command, operations have remained seamless, with service delivery running smoothly and unhindered.
At Apapa Area Command, revenue collection surged beyond projections, with recoveries from under-declarations and infractions reinforcing the Service’s vigilance.
In the same vein, the Tin Can Island Command recorded significant seizures of contraband, including restricted goods and counterfeit products, underscoring the Service’s commitment to safeguarding national security and economic interests.
Similarly, the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command maintained its reputation for precision enforcement, intercepting illicit consignments while ensuring legitimate trade flows without disruption.
The Idiroko Border Command led by Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, was scored high on enforcement drives, discipline, wellness activities and officers welfare.
Stakeholders across the maritime and aviation sectors also commended the Service’s performance.
“The Customs Service has shown remarkable consistency in revenue generation and enforcement.
“Their efficiency in Q1 and Q2 ,2026 has been a stabilizing factor for the economy,” said Mrs. Adeola Ogunleye, a maritime industry player.
Assessing the Service’s performance scorecard within the period under review, the National Publicity Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Mr. Emmanuel Onyeme, noted that men and officers of the NCS attended to their duties with passion and commitment.
He also saluted the high-level of professionalism displayed by personnel, while encouraging management and operatives within the zone to maintain the traction.
“The reality on the ground is that the Officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service in Zone ‘A’ have been very patriotic and professional in the discharge of their duties in recent months, particularly as regards  promptness to duty and attending to clearing agents with courtesy and professionalism.
“I commend the officers in the commands across the zone for discharging their duties so well.
“This shows that the high-level professionalism and patriotism of the Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi is running off down the ladder.
“I also want to commend all the Customs Area Controllers in the zone for being a very good example to their officers.
“The implication of this good development will be more revenue for the government and enhanced trade facilitation, and it will boost the cordial relationship existing between Customs and the stakeholders, especially Clearing Agents and Freight Forwarders”, Onyeme said.
Mr. Chinedu Okafor, a freight forwarder at Tin Can Island, also evaluating service delivery in the cargo clearance system said: “The seizures recorded this year are proof of Customs’ vigilance.
” Beyond that, clearance procedures have become faster, and revenue recoveries are impressive.
” Why we can speak of the need for improvement across board, we must commend the Customs for taking the lead and continue to incline to its appeal for other players like us to step up.”
Also speaking, Dr. Ibrahim Musa, an aviation logistics expert, emphasized the Service’s resilience:
 “At the airport command, operations have been seamless. Revenue targets are being met, enforcement remains strong, and compliance levels are high.
” The Service deserves commendation for balancing trade facilitation with security.”
The Nigeria Customs Service posted a strong performance in Q1 and Q2 2026, surpassing revenue targets, recording billions in recoveries, and executing major seizures across key commands.
 Stakeholders have lauded the Service’s efficiency, noting its resilience in revenue collection, enforcement, and compliance.
Revenue Performance:
While Q1 2026 export earnings hit $925.84 million, a 38.68% increase compared to Q1 2025, container throughput amounted to 19,014 for Q1 2026, up 95.58% from 9,722 in Q1 2025.
In the same vein, export surcharge collections grossed ₦199.36 million in Q1 2026, with an upswing of 21.81% year-on-year.
 This is even as the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) collections amounted to ₦6.03 billion for Q1 2026, amounting to a 20.15% increase, up from ₦5.01 billion collected in Q1 2025.
Instructively, there’s a projected ₦9 trillion revenue for 2026, based on ₦7.28 trillion collected in 2025; with a projected target increase of ₦697 billion.
Enforcement & Seizures
With a total of 473 smuggling operations foiled in 8 weeks, the Federal Operations Unit Zone A, Lagos seizures included 8,794 bags of rice (15 trailer loads), 22 used vehicles, 1,863 refrigerator compressors, 328 bales of clothing, and 531 cartons of frozen poultry.
Drug Interceptions records indicate that while 3,340 parcels of cannabis (1,540kg), plus 6.4kg of cocaine and methamphetamine valued at ₦2.35 billion was made within the period under review, revenue recovery by the unit amounted to ₦5.5 billion in Duty Paid Value (DPV) and ₦97.7 million recovered via Demand Notices.
Command Highlights:
While Apapa Area Command surpassed revenue projections, with strong recoveries from under-declarations, Tin Can Island the second largest command recorded significant seizures of contraband and counterfeit goods, reinforcing compliance.
This is even as Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command maintained a seamless enforcement trajectory, intercepting illicit consignments, while facilitating legitimate trade.
With stakeholders affirming the Service’s credibility and efficiency, the Nigeria Customs Service continues to uphold its reputation as a cornerstone of trade facilitation and national revenue generation. Its Q1 and Q2 2026 scorecard reflects not only resilience but also a forward-looking commitment to excellence in service delivery.
Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Customs

Apapa Customs leads intelligence – based operation to intercept 1.8tonnes of Cannabis Sativa, N12.8b worth of expired pharmaceuticals products

Funso OLOJO, Editor
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has led an intelligence- led operation in conjunction with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Monday, 15th June, 2026, to intercept a 40FT container with number CAAU7569127 conveying a large consignment of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as “Canadian.
According to the Apapa Customs command, the operation led to the recovery of 3,639 sachets of the illicit substance, with each sachet weighing 500 grams, bringing the total weight to approximately 1,819 kilograms (1.81 tonnes).
Preliminary field tests conducted on the substance returned positive results for Cannabis Sativa.
The drugs were cleverly concealed inside a black Toyota Nissan vehicle, a Toyota Sienna, along with several bags and drums loaded inside the container.
The interception highlights the Command’s enhanced capacity to detect and dismantle sophisticated smuggling networks attempting to exploit Nigeria’s maritime entry points.
The examination was carried out in collaboration with key security and regulatory agencies.
In a related development, the Command intercepted 2 x 40FT containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products illegally imported into the country.
Physical examination revealed that the pharmaceutical products have varied expiry date of 2021, 2022 and 2023 which the importers planned to relabel  and reintroduce into the Nigerian market, posing serious health risks to unsuspecting consumers.
The 1 x 40FT with number PCIU8771576 contained expired pharmaceuticals including Cidoxilin Capsules, Cynamine Vitamin B12 Injection and Becoline B-Complex Injection.
While, 1 x 40FT container with number MRKU4961275 contained various expired medical products such as Oxytocin Injection, Mexclor Eye Drops, Avomex Tablets, Carbamazepine Tablets, Silymarin Tablets, Nystatin Tablets, Hyoscine Butylbromide Tablets.
The seized items have a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N12.8 billion .
The substantial seizure highlights the scale of the attempted economic sabotage and underscores the unwavering commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to protecting national security, public health and the Nigerian economy through intelligence-driven enforcement operations.
Commenting on the seizures, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba warned that “unpatriotic importers and their collaborators who deliberately engage in smuggling, drug trafficking and the importation of expired pharmaceuticals are enemies of Nigeria’s progress.
“We have the intelligence, the technology and the resolve to identify and apprehend them.
“Anyone still contemplating these criminal acts should immediately desist, because the consequences will be swift, decisive and uncompromising.
“Apapa Port will not be used as a conduit for economic sabotage and public health endangerment.”
Comptroller Oshoba further warned that Apapa Port and all Customs-controlled areas remain under constant surveillance.
The CAC reassured all Nigerians of the Command’s commitment to intensifying intelligence-driven operations to protect lives, secure legitimate trade and uphold national security.
Continue Reading

Customs

Customs Zone ‘C’ Intercepts Smuggled Vegetable Oil Worth N403.5 Million

Funso OLOJO, Editor

 

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘C’, Owerri, of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a major anti-smuggling success with the interception of a large consignment of smuggled foreign vegetable oil valued at over N403.5 million.

The seizure followed strategic intelligence gathering and coordinated operations by officers of the Unit, leading to the interception of two trailers conveying the prohibited products.

Items seized include:
3,310 jerry cans (25-litre kegs) of Super Delicious vegetable oil;
10 jerry cans (10-litre kegs) of Super Delicious vegetable oil;
20 cartons of 5-litre sunflower vegetable oil; and
20 cartons of 3-litre sunflower vegetable oil.

According to the Unit, operatives intercepted one of the trucks carrying the consignment at about 10:00 p.m. on May 9, 2026, along the Ninth Mile axis of Enugu State, while the second truck was intercepted on June 7, 2026, along the Onitsha–Agbor Highway, following credible intelligence.

The Command disclosed that the seized goods have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N403,491,000.
Speaking on the seizure, the Controller of FOU Zone ‘C’, Bashir Balogun, described the operation as a significant blow to economic saboteurs whose activities undermine local industries and the nation’s economy.

He noted that the illegal importation of foreign vegetable oil negatively affects domestic production, technology transfer, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings.

Balogun emphasized that the operation demonstrates the Service’s unwavering commitment to enforcing the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2022 and the Federal Government’s fiscal and protective policies prohibiting the importation of foreign vegetable oil.

He warned individuals and syndicates involved in smuggling to desist from such activities, stressing that the Nigeria Customs Service would continue to deploy intelligence-driven enforcement strategies to safeguard public health, national security, and the domestic economy.

The seized vegetable oil remains in the custody of the Service while investigations into the smuggling network continue.

Continue Reading

Customs

Zone A Customs leads onslaught against wildlife smuggling syndicate, intercepts Elephant tusks, arrests four suspects

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has successfully dismantled a wildlife trafficking syndicate through a joint operation conducted with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC).

The intelligence-led operation resulted in the interception of 22 pieces of elephant tusks weighing a total of 130.84 kilograms, the arrest of four male suspects, and the seizure of the vehicle used for conveying the illicit cargo.

According to a statement issued by the Customs Zone A Command, the operation was made possible through extensive intelligence gathering, surveillance, and investigations into an organized wildlife trafficking network operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.

The operation was coordinated by the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, and the SIS A Team of the Customs Intelligence Unit, with support from NESREA and the WJC.

The seizure was effected at about 4:30 p.m. on June 13, 2026, in Ofada, Mowe, Ogun State, while the suspects were simultaneously apprehended at various locations in Lagos.

Customs disclosed that the seized elephant tusks have an estimated black-market value in Asia of N126.39 million.

The recovered wildlife specimens and the suspects remain in custody pending the conclusion of investigations and subsequent prosecution.

Speaking on the development, the Controller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, described the seizure as a clear demonstration of the unit’s commitment to enforcing national and international wildlife protection laws.

He noted that the operation was in line with Nigeria’s obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to which the country is a signatory.

He further cited Section 55(1)(i) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which prohibits the illegal trade in endangered species.

“This seizure underscores our ongoing efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking and protect biodiversity,” Comptroller Aliyu stated.

The Customs chief commended NESREA and the Wildlife Justice Commission for their invaluable support, noting that the success of the operation was a testament to effective inter-agency collaboration.

He urged the agencies to sustain the momentum in combating criminal networks that exploit Nigeria as a transit route for wildlife trafficking and other transnational crimes.

Comptroller Aliyu also appealed to members of the public to support the Nigeria Customs Service by reporting suspicious shipments, activities, or individuals linked to wildlife trafficking.

He assured that the Service would continue to take decisive enforcement actions against anyone found violating wildlife protection laws.

Continue Reading

Trending