The Nigeria Customs Service has stated that with 159 instances involving 135,474 baggage valued at N939m, rice remained essentially the most prevalent commodity seized by the service within the first quarter of 2025.
The Comptroller-Normal of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said this in Abuja whereas briefing journalists on the service’s actions within the first quarter of the 12 months, in keeping with his speech made out there to our correspondent.
Adeniyi stated except for rice, petroleum merchandise adopted with 61 seizures, totaling 65,819 litres with a duty-paid worth of N43m.
“Rice remained essentially the most prevalent seized commodity, with 159 instances involving 135,474 baggage valued at N939m. Petroleum merchandise adopted with 61 seizures totaling 65,819 liters valued at N43m,” Adeniyi stated.
In accordance with him, of explicit observe had been 22 narcotics interceptions valued at N730m, which displays the service’s intensified give attention to combating drug trafficking.
“The service additionally recorded three high-value wildlife product seizures with a outstanding N5.6bn worth, underscoring each the profitable nature of this unlawful commerce and our dedication to environmental safety underneath worldwide conventions,” he stated.
The CGC added that different notable seizures included 13 instances of textile materials valued at N134m, “5 instances of retreaded tires valued at N104m, and prescribed drugs, one case valued at N17.1m. These complete outcomes exhibit the service’s vigilance throughout all classes of prohibited and restricted items.”
He maintained that the pattern of seizures highlights a number of strategic priorities, stressing that the service pays extra consideration to intercepting high-volume objects like rice and petroleum merchandise by way of enhanced border surveillance.
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“Specialised operations focusing on high-value wildlife trafficking, constructing on current collaborations with UNODC and different worldwide companions, sustained give attention to harmful narcotics and pharmaceutical smuggling, implementation of superior non-intrusive inspection know-how to enhance detection charges,” he stated.
In accordance with him, from rice to wildlife, these seizures present the service’s focused strategy, stressing that whereas the outcomes point out progress in curbing smuggling actions, the service acknowledges the evolving nature of illicit commerce.
The CGC vowed that the NCS stays dedicated to refining its enforcement methods by way of intelligence-led operations, technological development, and strengthened interagency cooperation to guard nationwide income and safety.
He said that throughout the interval underneath overview, the service achieved a number of important milestones in its modernization and institutional improvement agenda.
Adeniyi maintained that the achievements align with the service’s strategic aims and contribute to its general mandate.
He stated that throughout the interval underneath overview, the service continued to roll out its indigenously developed customs clearance platform, B’Odogwu, increasing its operations to further customs formations throughout the nation, including that the enlargement has enhanced operational effectivity and improved service supply to our stakeholders.
The CGC defined that in February, the service formally launched the Approved Financial Operators Programme, “a World Customs Group-endorsed initiative that recognises companies with sturdy compliance data and safety requirements. This program offers advantages reminiscent of expedited clearance, diminished inspections, and enhanced predictability in customs procedures for qualifying operators.”
