Uche Cecil Izuora
The Kwara State Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has clearly stated that 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.
Customs Area Controller of the Command, while addressing the media, vowed that Kwara Command would never become a safe haven or transit corridor for illicit cross-border trade.
That stance remains uncompromising and its 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, he said.
“I must address an important narrative regarding our interception of food items. 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 Controller said.
He said the Command’s enforcement actions ensure that compliant, legitimate traders are not priced out by economic saboteurs who bypass established protocols for unlawful gain.
He used the occasion to present Eight seizures intercepted across various operational corridors within the Command:
They include Eighty bales and Six (6) sacks of Used Clothing intercepted along the Ogbomoso/Jebba axis | DPV: ₦32,300,000.00, 6,875 Litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) intercepted along the Bukuro/Okuta/Chikanda axis | DPV: ₦2,750,000.00, 3,396 Packets of Tramadol (100mg) intercepted along the Okuta axis | DPV: ₦50,946,000.00 and Fourteen (14) bags of Basmati Rice (5kg each) intercepted along the Bode-saadu Expressway | DPV: ₦350,000.00
Others are 6,705 Cartons of Foreign Spaghetti intercepted along the Bode-Saadu axis | DPV: ₦201,150,000.00,270 Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (50kg each) intercepted across various locations | DPV: ₦25,245,000.00,One (1) Toyota Highlander (2025 Model) intercepted along Bode-saadu Expressway | DPV: ₦214,000,000.00 and One (1) Dodge Charger SXT (2018 Model) intercepted Lagos/Kwara highway Eyankorin | DPV: ₦77,592,592.00.
Total Combined Duty Paid Value (DPV): ₦604,333,592 (Six Hundred and Four million, Three hundred and Thirty-Three Thousand, Five hundred and Ninety-Two).
“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.” he said.
He also listed 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, with interception of 6,875 litres of PMS to guard against the illegal siphon of strategic national supplies meant for domestic consumption into illicit border markets.
He said Excise activities continue to serve as our primary revenue driver. During the period under review, the Command generated a total revenue of ₦7,978,338,031.21 (Seven Billion, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Eight Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand, Thirty-One Naira, Twenty-One Kobo).
This milestone demonstrates our commitment to maximizing revenue for the Federal Government while maintaining a balanced operational focus on trade facilitation and national security.
He added, “Our achievements are rooted in intelligence-led operations. I commend the Command’s 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.
“We extend our deep gratitude to our sister security Agencies. Trans-border crime cannot be fought in isolation; inter-agency cooperation remains central to our tactical execution.”
He urged members of the public, border communities, traditional leaders, and commercial transporters to treat border security as a shared responsibility. Providing timely, credible intelligence remains vital to safeguarding our economic landscape.