The Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Area Command, has intensified its crackdown on smuggling, announcing seizures worth over ₦478 million in operations across the state.
Speaking at a press conference in Ilorin, Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, declared that Kwara would no longer serve as a safe haven for illegal trade. “It is regrettable that some individuals continue to engage in economic sabotage despite our previous warnings. However, our officers remain resolute, carrying out intelligence-driven enforcement operations to protect legitimate businesses and safeguard national revenue,” he said.
Among the seized items were 1,107 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 317 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, 120 sacks of illegally mined lithium ore, 44 bags of imported sugar, second-hand vehicles, used compressors, tyres, and large quantities of second-hand clothing. The Duty Paid Value of the intercepted goods totals ₦478,171,315.
Ogundeyi stressed that the government’s ban on foreign parboiled rice is aimed at strengthening local agriculture and creating jobs, warning that illegal importation continues to threaten farmers and national food security. He commended collaboration with sister security and regulatory agencies, attributing the operational successes to coordinated intelligence gathering and inter-agency synergy.
The Acting Controller also acknowledged the support of Customs leadership, noting that the Command generated over ₦2.5 billion in revenue from excise activities during the period under review. He urged the public to desist from smuggling, emphasizing that protecting the national economy is a shared responsibility.
“Together, we can safeguard our economy, protect local industries, and promote sustainable development for future generations,” he concluded.
By Kayode Abdulazeez, Ilorin
