Nigeria Customs Kwara Area Command Generates ₦7.98Bn, Records Varied Seizures
Nigeria Customs Kwara Area Command
Generates ₦7.98Bn, Records Varied Seizures
From Bashir Rabe Mani in
With excise activities continuing to serve as the primary revenue driver of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, the Command generated a total revenue of ₦7,978,338,031.21.
Briefing the press in Ilorin, Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria Thursday, September 10, 2026, the Acting Customs Area Controller (Ag. CAC), Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DC) Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, said: “This milestone demonstrates our commitment to maximizing revenue for the Federal Government while maintaining a balanced operational focus on trade facilitation and national security.”
Recalling that the briefing marks his fourth press engagement since assuming duty as Customs Area Controller (CAC) on December 17, 2025, this marks my fourth press engagement, DC Ogundeyi added: “We have consistently utilized this platform to provide factual, transparent updates on our operations specifically our resolute efforts to suppress smuggling, facilitate legitimate trade, protect federal revenues, and safeguard national security.
”At our previous briefings, I maintained that the Kwara Command would never become a safe haven or transit corridor for illicit cross-border trade. That stance remains uncompromising. Our officers maintain an active, vigilant presence across all identified channels and vulnerable corridors, driven by actionable intelligence, robust patrol operations, and seamless synergy with sister security agencies.”
On the Command’s interception of food items, he noted: “The seizure of food products should not be misinterpreted as an opposition by the Nigeria Customs Service to legitimate food availability for Nigerians. Rather, our mandate is to enforce compliance with the laws governing cross-border trade. When goods are moved through unapproved routes, bypass regulatory checks, or lack proper documentation, the Service is legally mandated to intervene.
”The illegal influx of foreign food products through porous borders undermines Federal Government policies aimed at boosting local agricultural production, protecting domestic investments, and safeguarding our local value chain. Our enforcement actions ensure that compliant, legitimate traders are not priced out by economic saboteurs who bypass established protocols for unlawful gain.”
Giving a breakdown of the goods seized during the review period, the Ag. CAC presented eight distinct seizures intercepted across various operational corridors within the Command.
These include 80 bales and six sacks of used clothing intercepted along the Ogbomoso/Jebba axis, and Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦32,300,000.00; 6,875 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly called petrol, intercepted along the Bukuro/Okuta/Chikanda axis, and with DPV of ₦2,750,000.00; 3,396 packets of Tramadol (100 milligramme) intercepted along the Okuta axis with DPV of ₦50,946,000.00; and 14 bags of Basmati Rice intercepted along the Bode-Saadu Expressway with DPV of ₦350,000.00.
Also intercepted along the Bode-Saadu axis were 6,705 cartons of foreign spaghetti with DPV of ₦201,150,000.00; while one Toyota Highlander (2025 Model) was intercepted along Bode-Saadu Expressway with DPV of ₦214,000,000.00; 270 units of 50-kilogramme bags of foreign parboiled rice were intercepted across various locations with DPV of ₦25,245,000.00.
Listed among the seizures were one Dodge Charger SXT (2018 Model) intercepted Lagos/Kwara highway Eyankorin with DPV of ₦77,592,592.00.
The Total Combined Duty Paid Value of seizures, according to Ogundeyi, is ₦604,333,592.
Highlighting and analysing the Command’s operations, he said: “These interceptions reflect the dynamic nature of cross-border criminality. Smugglers continuously alter tactics ranging from diverting critical energy resources like PMS to trafficking dangerous pharmaceuticals and uncustomed luxury vehicles.
”Pharmaceutical Threat: The seizure of 3,396 packets of Tramadol (100mg) valued at over ₦50.9 million highlights the critical role of border security in public health. Unregulated entry of controlled substances poses severe risks to national security and public safety.
”Petroleum Product Diversion: Intercepting 6,875 litres of PMS guards against the illegal siphon of strategic national supplies meant for domestic consumption into illicit border markets.”
Noting that Command’s “achievements are rooted in intelligence-led operations”, commended its “Intelligence Unit and Customs Police Unit particularly acknowledging the enhanced momentum under its new leadership as well as the resilient officers and men of the Kwara Area Command for their dedication across vast and challenging terrains”.
Extending Command’s “deep gratitude to our sister security agencies”, he added: “Trans-border crime cannot be fought in isolation; inter-agency cooperation remains central to our tactical execution.
“I express my profound appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, for his strategic direction and constant support to the Command.”
Ogundeyi urged members of the public, border communities, traditional leaders, and commercial transporter to “treat border security as a shared responsibility”, noting that “providing timely, credible intelligence remains vital to safeguarding our economic landscape”
The Ag. CAC added: “To our media partners, thank you for your commitment to objective journalism. We count on you to continue educating the public on the critical distinction between compliant international trade and illicit smuggling.
”Our position remains absolute: Legitimate trade will receive our maximum support, but smuggling will encounter uncompromising enforcement.”
• Highlights of when the Acting Customs Area Controller (Ag. CAC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DC) Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, briefed the press in Ilorin, Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria … Thursday, September 10, 2026.
