The Nigeria Customs Service reported that during the first quarter of 2025, rice was still the top item intercepted, with 159 instances encompassing 135,474 bags worth N939 million.
Adewale Adeniyy, the Comptroller-General of Customs, disclosed this information during a press conference in Abuja where he provided an update on the organization’s operations for the first three months of the year, as shared with our reporter through the transcript of his remarks.
Adeniyi mentioned that apart from rice, petroleum products were next with 61 confiscations, amounting to 65,819 liters and carrying a dutiable worth of ₦43 million.
” Rice continued to be the dominant confiscated item, with 159 instances encompassing 135,474 sacks worth N939 million. Petrol derivatives came second with 61 confiscations amounting to 65,819 liters valued at N43 million,” stated Adeniyi.
As he pointed out, among the significant achievements were 22 seizures of drugs worth N730 million, highlighting the agency’s increased emphasis on tackling drug smuggling.
“The service additionally documented three significant confiscations of wildlife products, totaling an impressive NGN 5.6 billion in value. This highlights not only the profitability of these illicit trades but also our dedication to safeguarding the environment through adherence to international agreements,” he stated.
The CGC also mentioned that several significant apprehensions involved 13 instances of textiles worth N134 million, “five occurrences of recapped tires with an estimated value of N104 million, along with pharmaceuticals; a single instance amounted to N17.1 million. This extensive data highlights the organization’s thorough monitoring and enforcement capabilities concerning various types of banned and controlled items.”
He argued that the pattern of seizures underscores various strategic focuses, emphasizing that the service is increasingly concentrating on stopping large quantities of goods such as rice and oil products by improving border monitoring.
“He mentioned specialized efforts aimed at combating high-value wildlife trafficking, expanding upon current partnerships with organizations like the UNODC and other global allies. This also includes maintaining attention on perilous drug smuggling and illegal pharmaceuticals trade. Additionally, they plan to deploy cutting-edge non-invasive inspection technologies to enhance discovery efficiency,” he stated.
As he stated, covering everything from rice to wildlife, these confiscations demonstrate the agency’s focused strategy. He highlighted that although the outcomes suggest advancements in combating trafficking, the organization acknowledges the dynamic character of illegal commerce.
The CGC affirmed that the NCS continues to be dedicated to enhancing its enforcement methods via intelligence-driven initiatives, technological progress, and improved collaboration among agencies, all aimed at safeguarding national revenue and security.
He mentioned that during the reviewed timeframe, the service made considerable progress toward its goals of modernization and institutional growth.
Adeniyi asserted that these accomplishments are consistent with the organization’s strategic goals and help fulfill its overarching mission.
During the period under consideration, he mentioned that the service kept deploying its locally created customs clearance system, known as B’Odugwu, extending its reach to more customs units nationwide. He further noted that this growth contributed significantly to better operational effectiveness and an enhancement of services provided to their stakeholders.
The CGC stated that in February, the service initiated the Authorized Economic Operators Program, which is “an initiative supported by the World Customs Organization and acknowledges enterprises with robust compliance histories and high-security protocols.” This scheme offers advantages like streamlined processing, fewer inspections, and greater consistency in customs formalities for participating entities.
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