Customs
The Afeni Effect: Inside Ogun I Customs’ war on smuggling and battle for Nigeria’s economy
Funso OLOJO, Editor
At Nigeria’s south-western border with the Republic of Benin, the battle against smuggling is no longer merely about intercepting bags of rice, petroleum products or second-hand clothing.
Increasingly, it is a battle over the survival of local industries, food security, public health, legitimate trade, national revenue and, ultimately, Nigeria’s economic security.
At the centre of that battle is the Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Idiroko, where Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Oladapo Afeni, the Acting Customs Area Controller, has presided over an increasingly aggressive enforcement campaign.
The numbers tell part of the story.
Under Afeni, the Command’s seizure diary has expanded from narcotics and prohibited food products to petroleum products, tyres, pharmaceuticals, clothing, sugar, fertiliser and even antiquities and wildlife.
But perhaps more significant than the sheer volume of seizures is the philosophy emerging behind them: make the border hostile to illicit trade while making it more accessible to legitimate commerce.
That approach dovetails with the broader economic direction of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which has consistently presented the Renewed Hope agenda as a programme aimed at strengthening domestic production, protecting investment, improving revenue and securing Nigeria’s economic space.
At Ogun I, those objectives are increasingly being translated into frontline enforcement.
THE AUGUST SCORECARD: ₦3.574 BILLION IN ONE ENFORCEMENT WINDOW
The latest chapter in Afeni’s seizure diary is particularly revealing.
Between June 24 and August 13, 2026, the Ogun I Command intercepted prohibited goods with a combined Duty Paid Value of ₦3,574,435,248.08.
Among the most striking seizures were 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica, 2,339 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 cartons of basmati rice, 30 bags of foreign sugar, 11,450 litres of Premium Motor Spirit in kegs, another 1,750 litres of PMS in drums and 30 kegs of diesel.
The inventory also included 100 bags of fertiliser, 67 bales of second-hand clothing, 2,674 pieces of new shorts and trousers, 3,760 pieces of new tops, 85 fire extinguishers, 480 cartons of Pure Haven drinks, cosmetics, oats, hair accessories, surgical shoes and 127 new purses.
Yet the cannabis seizure stood out.
The 6,035 parcels of Ghana Loud/Indica were formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Idiroko Special Command, for further investigation and necessary action.
Afeni subsequently disclosed that from January 2026 to the August briefing, the Command had handed over 32,412 parcels of hard drugs and 92 sacks of raw Cannabis Sativa to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command.
That statistic provides perhaps the clearest indication of the changing character of smuggling through the Ogun border.
It is no longer simply a question of economic contraband. Increasingly, it is a question of economic and national security.
BEFORE AUGUST CAME ₦4.63 BILLION
The August seizure did not emerge in isolation.
Between April 1 and June 23, 2026, the Command recorded 146 seizures with a cumulative DPV of ₦4,628,591,970.16, while generating ₦259,777,346.89 during the same period.
The revenue figure represented a remarkable 238 per cent increase over the ₦76.81 million recorded during the corresponding period of 2025.
That performance is significant because the Ogun I story under Afeni has not been exclusively about seizure.
There has also been an attempt to combine enforcement, revenue generation and trade facilitation.
The second-quarter seizure list was extensive: 2,807 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 9,482 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 62 sacks of raw marijuana, 16,525 litres of PMS, 475 litres of diesel, 7,642 pieces of footwear, 2,427 pneumatic tyres, 63 sacks of foreign sugar, 73 bales of second-hand clothing, fertiliser, imported flour, frozen products and pharmaceuticals.
The Command also handed over 6,981 parcels of Cannabis Indica/Ghanaian Loud and 62 sacks of raw marijuana to the NDLEA, while illicit pharmaceutical products, including 77 cartons of Analgin injections containing 138,600 tubes, were transferred to NAFDAC.
In other words, Afeni’s seizure diary is also becoming a diary of inter-agency enforcement.
THE ₦1.35 BILLION CHAPTER
Earlier, between February and March, the Command intercepted prohibited goods valued at approximately ₦1.35 billion.
That operation produced another revealing catalogue of commodities moving through the border environment.
They included 2,539 kegs of vegetable oil, 4,325 cartons of foreign spaghetti, 1,204 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 2,547 parcels of Cannabis Sativa and 13,625 litres of PMS.
Four live pangolins and two antique artefacts believed to date from the 19th century were also intercepted.The vegetable oil seizure was particularly significant.
Customs described it as part of efforts to protect domestic producers from unfair competition created by smuggled goods.
That is where the anti-smuggling campaign intersects directly with the Renewed Hope economic argument.
For every prohibited consignment that enters Nigeria outside the legal import regime, there is potentially a local manufacturer, farmer, investor or legitimate trader being placed at a disadvantage.
The Customs position, therefore, is that enforcement is not simply about confiscation. It is about protecting the productive economy.
THE RICE WAR
Foreign rice has perhaps become the most visible symbol of the economic contest at the Ogun border.
Again and again, rice appears in Afeni’s seizure diary.
In the April-June enforcement period alone, 2,807 bags of foreign parboiled rice were intercepted.
In the latest June-August operation, another 2,339 bags, alongside 70 cartons of basmati rice, were seized.
Afeni’s argument has been straightforward: the illegal inflow of foreign rice undermines local farmers, domestic rice mills and agricultural investors.
That position aligns the border enforcement campaign with the Federal Government’s broader food-security objectives.
The logic is compelling.
If government policy encourages Nigerians to invest in agriculture and local food processing while smugglers simultaneously flood the market with cheaper prohibited imports, then the border becomes the first point at which that economic policy must be defended.
In this sense, a bag of seized foreign rice is no longer merely a Customs seizure. It represents a direct intervention in the competition between illegal imports and domestic production.
WHEN SMUGGLERS FIGHT BACK
Afeni’s seizure diary also records an increasingly dangerous side of the border war.
In one June operation, Customs officers intercepted a truck carrying 113 bags of foreign parboiled rice along the Itori-Wasimi-Abeokuta corridor.
According to the Command, the driver ignored the officers’ signal to stop and attempted to ram the patrol vehicle before he was apprehended.
In another operation, 630 bags of foreign rice were intercepted along the Afamin-Igbogila axis.
Earlier enforcement operations had also involved resistance and attacks on Customs personnel.
This suggests that the enforcement environment around the Ogun border cannot be treated as an ordinary regulatory exercise.
The stakes are evidently high enough for some operators to risk confrontation with armed government personnel.
That makes the Command’s emphasis on intelligence, technology and collaboration with sister agencies particularly important.
FROM PATROLS TO INTELLIGENCE
Perhaps the most important change in the Afeni approach is the apparent movement away from purely reactive patrols towards intelligence-led enforcement.
The August operation, according to Customs, was strengthened by intelligence gathering, technology and collaboration with sister security agencies.
That is significant because border smugglers are themselves adapting.
Their methods increasingly involve concealment, multiple routes, small consignments, night movements, abandoned structures, bush paths and waterways.
The Customs response, therefore, has had to become more sophisticated.
The objective is no longer simply to wait for contraband to appear at a checkpoint. It is to identify the networks, understand the routes and intercept consignments before they reach the Nigerian market.
That represents a fundamentally different model of border enforcement.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE TO THE STORY
Interestingly, while the seizure diary has expanded, so has the Command’s legitimate trade profile.
Between April and June, Ogun I facilitated 20,972 metric tonnes of exports with a Free-On-Board value of ₦1.049 billion — a dramatic improvement over the corresponding period of 2025, when no export activity was recorded.
By the August briefing, the Command reported 10,110 metric tonnes of exports, valued at ₦2.594 billion FOB, with white talc, crushed thermal coal and CNG identified among the major export commodities.
That development deserves attention.
A successful border command cannot simply become a wall. It must become a filter.
The illegal must be stopped; the legitimate must be facilitated.
So far, the figures suggest that Ogun I is attempting to pursue both sides of that equation.
THE AFENI EQUATION
The emerging Afeni equation can be reduced to four words:
Enforcement. Revenue. Security. Trade.
The enforcement figures are substantial.
The revenue numbers show improvement.
The volume of narcotics handed over to the NDLEA demonstrates the security dimension.
And the rising export statistics point towards the trade-facilitation component.
The interconnectedness of the four is clear.
A secure border encourages legitimate commerce.
Legitimate commerce generates revenue.
Revenue strengthens government capacity.
And strong enforcement protects legitimate operators from unfair competition.
This is the economic-security argument behind the Ogun I experience.
A COMMAND UNDER PRESSURE
Yet the Afeni record should not be romanticised. It should be understood for what it is.
The persistence of large-scale seizures itself demonstrates that the smuggling economy remains alive.
Every seizure is evidence of successful enforcement, but it is also evidence that somebody remains willing to attempt the illegal movement of the goods.
The continued appearance of rice, petroleum products, narcotics, clothing and other prohibited commodities means that the underlying economic incentives driving smuggling have not disappeared.
Perhaps this is where the larger policy question arises:
Can enforcement alone permanently defeat smuggling?
Probably not.
Border communities need legitimate economic alternatives. Traders need predictable procedures. Exporters need efficient processing. Security agencies need sustained inter-agency cooperation.
And the Customs Service must continue to ensure that legitimate trade is not inadvertently caught in an enforcement net designed for criminal networks.
Afeni’s challenge, therefore, is bigger than producing impressive seizure statistics.
It is to help transform Idiroko from a border corridor defined by illicit commerce into a gateway for legitimate Nigerian production and exports.
THE RENEWED HOPE TEST
The real test of the Renewed Hope agenda at the border is not how many bags of rice Customs can seize.
It is whether those seizures ultimately contribute to a market environment in which Nigerian farmers can produce competitively, local manufacturers can survive, legitimate traders can operate profitably, government can collect its lawful revenue and criminal networks can no longer exploit the border as an economic highway.
By that measure, Afeni’s diary offers an interesting case study.
From the ₦1.35 billion seizure chapter of February-March, to the ₦4.63 billion recorded between April and June, and then the ₦3.574 billion seizure window stretching from June 24 to August 13, the operational tempo has remained high.
And behind those numbers is an increasingly diversified enforcement portfolio: drugs, rice, petroleum products, vegetable oil, tyres, pharmaceuticals, clothing, sugar, fertiliser, wildlife and antiquities.
More importantly, the Command has coupled seizures with drug handovers, inter-agency operations, revenue collection and legitimate export facilitation.
That may ultimately prove more significant than any single seizure.
THE DIARY CONTINUES
As August 2026 closes, one conclusion appears difficult to dispute:
The Ogun I border is no longer being treated merely as a Customs collection point. It is increasingly being managed as an economic-security theatre.
For smugglers, the apparent message from Idiroko is unmistakable: the routes are being watched, the networks are being pursued and the cargoes are increasingly vulnerable to interception.
For legitimate businesses, however, there is another message: the border is expected to become a safer and more predictable channel for lawful commerce.
And for the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope agenda, that distinction is critical.
Because the ultimate measure of success is not the size of the seizure warehouse.
It is the size of the legitimate economy that emerges when the smuggling economy is squeezed out.
For now, Afeni’s seizure diary is still being written.
And at Idiroko, the pages are filling up fast.
Customs
FOU Zone A: Afeni intensifies anti-smuggling operations, seizes N511.4m drugs, rescues eight pangolins
Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, has intensified its anti-smuggling operations across the South-West, recording major seizures of illicit drugs and pharmaceutical products valued at N511.4 million and rescuing eight endangered pangolins under the leadership of its Acting Comptroller, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni.
The latest achievements reflect a renewed enforcement strategy anchored on intelligence gathering, strategic patrols and strengthened collaboration with sister security agencies to disrupt smuggling networks and combat transnational organised crime across the region.
Since assuming leadership of the unit, Afeni has intensified efforts to tackle the illegal movement of prohibited goods through major highways, border corridors and waterways, with operations targeting illicit drugs, unapproved pharmaceutical products, endangered wildlife, foreign parboiled rice, frozen poultry products and other prohibited items.
The recent interceptions, particularly the recovery of drugs and pharmaceutical products worth N511.4 million and the rescue of eight live pangolins in two separate operations, underscore the unit’s determination to protect public health, safeguard national security, preserve wildlife and strengthen compliance with Nigeria’s trade regulations.
Beyond the financial value of the seizures, the operations highlight the wider economic, environmental and security consequences of smuggling and the need for sustained enforcement against criminal networks operating across the South-West.
One of the major breakthroughs recorded under Afeni’s leadership was the interception of assorted illicit drugs and pharmaceutical products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N511.4 million.
The seized items were subsequently handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and necessary regulatory and legal action.
The exhibits included 121 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 65.9 kilogrammes, 100 grammes of crystal methamphetamine, 400 grammes of cocaine, 900 grammes of ground synthetic cannabis, 4.3 kilogrammes of hybrid cannabis and 57 cartons of codeine syrup.
Other items handed over included 86 packs of polythene bags allegedly used to conceal the illicit substances, two vehicles a Toyota Hiace bus and a Toyota Sienna and two male suspects linked to separate interceptions.
According to the unit, one of the operations took place at approximately 1 p.m. on October 10, 2026, when an intelligence led patrol team intercepted a Toyota Hiace bus conveying suspected illicit drugs concealed in polythene bags along the Lagos-Benin Expressway, around Ore, Ondo State.
Following the interception, NDLEA officials conducted further examination and analysis, which confirmed the nature of the substances.
In a separate operation on October 7, 2026, Customs officers intercepted another vehicle along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
A thorough search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 57 cartons of assorted brands of codeine syrup.
The interceptions demonstrate the unit’s commitment to preventing the transportation and distribution of prohibited substances through major commercial routes, where traffickers often conceal illegal consignments among legitimate goods.
Speaking on behalf of Afeni during the handover, the Deputy Comptroller in charge of Enforcement,Oluwaseun Oguntuase, attributed the successes to sustained intelligence driven operations across the unit’s area of responsibility.
He explained that the seizures and subsequent transfer of the exhibits to the relevant agencies reflected the Service’s determination to secure the nation’s borders, protect public health and strengthen national security.
The collaboration with NDLEA and NAFDAC also reinforces the importance of inter-agency cooperation in tackling drug trafficking and the circulation of unapproved pharmaceutical products.
In addition to its operations against drug trafficking and other prohibited imports, FOU Zone ‘A’ has strengthened its efforts to combat illegal wildlife trafficking, recording two separate interceptions that resulted in the rescue of eight live pangolins within approximately 11 days.
The first operation occurred on October 12, 2026, when Customs officers intercepted three live pangolins during an anti-smuggling operation around Oyo Dam, Igbo-Ora, Ogun State.
Acting on credible intelligence, the patrol team discovered the animals concealed inside a sack and a wire mesh cage.
The suspected traffickers reportedly abandoned the consignment and escaped into a nearby swamp upon sighting the officers.
Similarly, in the early hours of October 23, 2026, another patrol team intercepted five additional live pangolins along the Igbo-Ora/Imeko-Afon axis.
The animals were found confined in wire mesh cages and allegedly concealed to evade detection.
The suspects reportedly fled the scene, abandoning the animals as Customs officers moved in.
The two operations highlight the growing enforcement attention being given to illegal wildlife trade and the need to dismantle the networks responsible for trafficking protected species.
Pangolins are among the world’s most trafficked mammals, largely targeted by illegal traders for their scales and meat.
Their international commercial trade is prohibited under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which lists all pangolin species under Appendix I.
The rescued animals were handed over to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative Centre for safekeeping, rehabilitation and appropriate management, with the possibility of eventual release into a protected natural habitat where feasible.
Speaking during the second handover, Oguntuase, who represented Afeni, stressed the need for comprehensive investigations to identify and dismantle the criminal networks behind the repeated attempts to traffic endangered wildlife.
He reaffirmed the unit’s commitment to intelligence led enforcement, collaboration with conservation organisations and the strict enforcement of relevant laws against illegal wildlife trade.
The repeated interceptions also underscore the importance of identifying the individuals and networks financing, transporting and facilitating the illegal trade, rather than limiting enforcement efforts to recovering abandoned consignments.
Recognising the importance of coordinated security operations in tackling organised crime, Afeni has also intensified engagement with sister security agencies across the South-West.
On October 14, 2026, the Acting Comptroller commenced a familiarization tour of security and law enforcement agencies in Lagos State as part of efforts to strengthen institutional relationships and improve cooperation in intelligence sharing, information exchange and joint enforcement operations.
The agencies visited included the Lagos State Police Command, Department of State Services (DSS), Headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s 81 Division, the NDLEA Lagos State Strategic Command, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Army’s 9 Brigade in Ikeja.
During the engagements, Afeni emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among security institutions to effectively address smuggling, cross-border criminal activities and other threats to national security.
At the Lagos State Police Command, where he was received by the Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, Afeni noted that the Customs Service’s responsibilities extended beyond border protection and required sustained cooperation with other security agencies.
He expressed concern that the approaching election period could create opportunities for criminal elements to exploit heightened political activities and engage in illegal operations capable of threatening public peace.
“We know that crime rates often increase as the country approaches the election period, as some people may attempt to take advantage of the period to perpetrate illicit activities capable of causing crises during the elections. Therefore, we are here to call for closer synergy so that these bad elements do not have their way.”
Afeni maintained that no security agency could effectively confront complex criminal activities in isolation, stressing that regular intelligence sharing and coordinated operations remained essential to achieving lasting security outcomes.
In his response, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police welcomed the initiative and described the relationship between the police and other security agencies in the state as strong and productive, despite the security challenges associated with Lagos’s large population and complex operating environment.
At the Nigerian Army’s 81 Division Headquarters, the General Officer Commanding, Major General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola, also emphasised the importance of joint security operations.
He cautioned against unnecessary administrative bottlenecks that could affect operational efficiency and called for effective coordination among relevant institutions.
The engagements reflect the growing recognition that smuggling networks often operate across multiple jurisdictions, exploiting highways, waterways, border communities and distribution centres to move prohibited goods.
Strengthening institutional cooperation and intelligence exchange is therefore critical to identifying criminal movements, closing security gaps and ensuring timely responses to emerging threats.
The intensified operations by FOU Zone ‘A’ also carry significant economic and public health implications.
Smuggling undermines legitimate businesses by creating unfair competition for compliant importers and traders who fulfil their statutory obligations, including the payment of duties and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Similarly, the illegal movement of narcotics and unapproved pharmaceutical products exposes Nigerians to serious health risks,while wildlife trafficking threatens biodiversity and undermines international conservation efforts.
For the Nigeria Customs Service, effective enforcement therefore requires a balanced approach that prevents prohibited trade while facilitating legitimate commercial activities.
The N511.4 million worth of intercepted drugs and pharmaceutical products represents more than the financial value of the seized items.
It also reflects the potential harm prevented by keeping dangerous substances away from the public.
Likewise, the rescue of eight pangolins demonstrates the Service’s expanding role in environmental protection and the fight against organised wildlife trafficking.
However, the long-term success of these operations will depend on the ability of relevant agencies to conduct effective investigations, secure successful prosecutions and dismantle the networks responsible for the illegal activities.
The escape of suspects during both pangolin interceptions further highlights the need to strengthen intelligence gathering and surveillance to ensure that those behind the illegal trade are identified and brought to justice.
The Acting Comptroller has assured that FOU Zone ‘A’ will sustain its enforcement operations, intelligence driven patrols and strategic partnerships with relevant security and regulatory agencies across its area of responsibility.
His approach centres on strengthening intelligence gathering, improving inter-agency coordination and maintaining operational pressure on routes frequently exploited by smugglers.
The recent seizures indicate that the unit’s enforcement activities cover multiple categories of prohibited goods, ranging from illicit drugs and unapproved pharmaceutical products to endangered wildlife and other restricted commodities.
Sustaining these achievements, however, will require continuous investment in operational capacity, reliable intelligence networks, effective investigations and stronger engagement with communities along vulnerable smuggling corridors.
Equally important is continued cooperation with regulatory institutions and conservation organisations to ensure that seized products undergo appropriate investigations and rescued wildlife receives adequate care.
As the Nigeria Customs Service continues to discharge its statutory responsibilities, the effectiveness of Afeni’s enforcement strategy will ultimately be measured not only by the volume and value of seizures but also by its ability to dismantle criminal networks, protect public health, preserve biodiversity, safeguard government revenue and create a more secure environment for legitimate trade.
For smugglers operating across the South-West, the message from FOU Zone ‘A’ remains clear: the Service is strengthening its intelligence capacity, intensifying patrols and deepening security partnerships to make the region increasingly hostile to illicit trade.
Customs
Nigeria Customs, US Business Community strengthen partnership to boost trade facilitation
Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and key American business organisations have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations, improving trade facilitation, and creating a more transparent and predictable business environment for investors in Nigeria.
The commitment was reiterated during a quarterly stakeholder engagement held on 28 October 2026 at the NCS Headquarters’ ICT Auditorium in Maitama, Abuja.
The meeting brought together the Service, the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-Africa Business Centre (USAfBC), and the American Business Council (ABC) to discuss ways to improve trade processes, address business concerns, and deepen economic cooperation between Nigeria and the United States.
Speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, said the engagement provided an important platform for strengthening collaboration and promoting mutually beneficial economic relations between both countries.
Niagwan reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to institutional reforms, operational efficiency, digital transformation, and improved stakeholder engagement, noting that these initiatives were central to building a modern Customs administration.
“Our objective is to build a modern, transparent, and responsive Customs administration that facilitates trade while ensuring effective revenue collection, border security, and compliance with applicable rules and regulations,” she said.
She explained that regular engagements with the business community would enable the Service to exchange ideas, address emerging concerns, and improve its operations to meet the needs of businesses operating in Nigeria and those seeking investment opportunities in the country.
According to her, predictable Customs procedures, transparent tariff administration, timely cargo clearance, and effective dispute resolution mechanisms are essential to improving the ease of doing business and strengthening investor confidence.
The Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, highlighted the Service’s ongoing digital transformation initiatives, including the automation of licence and permit applications to simplify procedures and improve operational efficiency.
She also disclosed plans to deploy 22 additional scanners across seaports, airports, and border stations to strengthen cargo examination, enhance operational effectiveness, and support trade facilitation.
Adebakin further emphasised the Service’s transition towards paperless administrative processes and encouraged members of the business community to provide feedback on their experiences with Customs procedures.
She noted that constructive engagement with stakeholders would help the Service identify operational challenges, address bottlenecks, and develop practical solutions to improve service delivery.
The President of the US-Africa Business Centre at the US Chamber of Commerce, Kendra Gaither, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its contributions to economic development, particularly through the facilitation of legitimate trade.
She observed that the importance of efficient Customs operations is often overlooked when trade processes run smoothly, despite their significant impact on businesses, consumers, and the wider economy.
“When Customs works well, when trade is facilitated, people are the ultimate beneficiaries,” Gaither said.
She stressed that efficient Customs administration was critical to attracting investment and expanding business opportunities across key sectors, including agriculture, energy, critical minerals, healthcare, and the digital economy.
Gaither also expressed appreciation for the continued partnership between the Service and the American business community, noting the importance of sustained dialogue in addressing trade related challenges and creating an enabling environment for investment.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Secretary of the American Business Council Nigeria, Margaret Olele, praised the Service for its progress in trade facilitation, transparency, and stakeholder engagement.
Olele also congratulated the Nigeria Customs Service on its recognition as a top performing agency in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) Compliance Assessment.
She highlighted improvements in the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme, Advance Rulings, and dispute resolution mechanisms, noting that the quarterly engagements had contributed to resolving longstanding challenges faced by businesses.
The meeting reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the American business community in promoting efficient trade procedures, addressing private sector concerns, and strengthening Nigeria’s attractiveness as an investment destination.
Through continued dialogue, digital innovation, and institutional reforms, both sides are expected to build on existing progress towards a more transparent, efficient, and business friendly trade environment.
Customs
Export activities surge at Lilypond Export Command, records export value of US$752.9m in Q3 of 2026
— as Agricultural, Solid minerals exports plunge
Funso OLOJO, Editor
The Lilypond Export Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ijora, Lagos, recorded export transactions valued at $752.9 million in the third quarter of 2026, representing a 22.14 per cent increase over the $586.152 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
The growth was driven largely by a sharp increase in manufactured goods exports, which more than doubled during the period, offsetting declines in agricultural produce and solid minerals exports.
The Acting Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller Olusola Oluyemi Salako, attributed the overall improvement to favourable government export policies, the Customs Service’s commitment to trade facilitation and the support of the NCS management under the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
Salako disclosed the figures while briefing the media on the Command’s third-quarter performance on October 28, 2026.
A breakdown of the monthly figures showed that export value rose from $202.604 million in July 2025 to $217.526 million in July 2026, representing a 6.86 per cent increase.
In August, exports increased from $176.628 million to $297.919 million, reflecting a reported growth of 40.71 per cent, while September exports rose from $206.919 million to $237.406 million, representing a 12.84 per cent increase.
Manufactured goods drive export growth
An analysis of the sectoral performance showed that manufactured goods emerged as the leading driver of export growth, with export value increasing from $169.902 million in the third quarter of 2025 to $402.520 million in the corresponding period of 2026.
The performance underscores the growing contribution of manufactured and value-added products to Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings.
Salako said the trend reflected the Federal Government’s drive to encourage domestic processing and value addition rather than continued dependence on the export of raw commodities.
“This performance underscores the growing contribution of manufactured and value-added products to Nigeria’s non-oil export earnings,” he said.
According to the Acting Controller, the Customs Command has continued to sensitise exporters on the need to move beyond the export of raw agricultural produce and embrace processing and value-added production.
He explained that more agricultural commodities were being processed into manufactured and value-added products for export, a development that he said was contributing to the growth in manufactured goods exports and supporting greater foreign exchange repatriation into the Nigerian economy.
Agricultural exports suffer decline
Despite the overall growth in export value, agricultural exports recorded a decline, falling from $346.107 million in the third quarter of 2025 to $310.981 million in the corresponding period of 2026.
Salako, however, maintained that agriculture remained a significant component of the Command’s export portfolio.
He attributed the decline partly to the Federal Government’s increasing emphasis on processing agricultural commodities and improving their value before export.
The policy direction, he said, was intended to encourage domestic value addition, expand manufacturing activities and improve the returns Nigeria earns from its exports.
The Command, he added, would continue to engage exporters and provide guidance on compliance with government policies aimed at strengthening the country’s non-oil export base.
Solid minerals exports plunge
Solid minerals exports recorded the steepest decline among the major export categories, falling from $62.271 million in the third quarter of 2025 to $6.487 million in the same period of 2026.
Salako attributed the sharp drop to government policies discouraging the export of unprocessed solid minerals and requiring greater processing and conversion into derivatives before export.
He also cited efforts to curb illegal mining activities, particularly those involving foreign operators, as another factor contributing to the decline.
The Acting Controller said the Command would continue engaging stakeholders in the solid minerals sector to better understand operational challenges and support legitimate export activities within the framework of existing government policies.
In contrast, exports classified under the other-products category increased from $7.870 million to $32.863 million during the period under review, reflecting improved performance.
Export container throughput rises
Beyond the increase in export value, the Command recorded significant growth in export container throughput.
The number of export containers processed rose from 10,987 in the third quarter of 2025 to 16,345 in the corresponding period of 2026, an increase of 5,358 containers.
The growth points to increased cargo movement through the facility and an expansion in the volume of export transactions handled during the quarter.
The Command also reported increases in export-related collections.
According to Salako, the 2.5 per cent re-export surcharge increased by ₦90.019 million, while the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) charges rose by ₦517.923 million during the period.
He said the increase in collections highlighted the importance of efficient cargo processing, accurate documentation and compliance with established Customs procedures in supporting legitimate trade.
Customs pledges faster processing, stronger compliance
Salako commended compliant exporters, licensed Customs agents, export processing terminals, relevant government agencies and other stakeholders for their cooperation and commitment to the export process.
He said the Command would sustain its support for legitimate trade through improved trade facilitation, timely dissemination of relevant information and consistent enforcement of applicable Customs regulations.
“The Command will continue to support legitimate trade through effective trade facilitation, timely dissemination of relevant information and consistent application of extant rules and regulations. At the same time, we will sustain our commitment to enforcing compliance with all applicable Customs laws and government policies,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Acting Controller said the Command would intensify efforts to sustain export growth through faster and more efficient cargo processing, stakeholder engagement, advocacy and the effective deployment of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), also known as B’Odogwu.
He said the system continued to support Customs operations and trade facilitation by improving the management of export transactions.
The Command would also leverage World Customs Organization (WCO) trade facilitation instruments, including the Time Release Study (TRS), where applicable, to identify operational bottlenecks and improve efficiency.
Salako said the third-quarter performance demonstrated the potential of manufactured and value-added products to strengthen Nigeria’s non-oil export base, even as the declines in agricultural and solid minerals exports highlighted the need to address sector-specific challenges.
“Our commitment remains to facilitate legitimate trade, strengthen compliance, enhance revenue collection and contribute meaningfully to the growth of Nigeria’s non-oil economy,” he said.
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