Ogun customs seize N231m goods in two months

Some of the seized goods. Photo: DAud Olatunji

The Nigeria Customs Service in Ogun State has impounded 115 smuggled items between January and February, including 11 trailers of rice, 19,806 litres of petrol and artefacts worth N231,218,506. Customs Area Controller of Ogun 1 Area Command, Bamidele Makinde, disclosed these figures during a Tuesday press briefing on the command’s January‑February scorecard.

Makinde reported that the command generated N28,445,757 in revenue from import duties, auctions and sales of scrap vehicles and petroleum products during the period. The seizures comprised 19,806 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, 18 used vehicles used to transport smuggled goods, 64 sacks and 824 wraps of books, bread and coconut‑sized cannabis, and 10 large and 19 small artefacts. Additional items seized included one motorcycle used for transporting prohibited items, 73 bales of second‑hand clothing, 14 sacks of foreign‑used shoes, 900 foreign‑used tyres and 520 cartons of frozen poultry products.

The Area Controller attributed these achievements to the command’s resolve in fulfilling its core mandate of revenue generation, smuggling suppression and trade facilitation in Ogun State. “The command generated a total sum of N28,445,757 through import duties, auction sales of scrap vehicles and petroleum products,” he said. “The relentless anti‑smuggling campaign has continued to improve our seizure profile.”

During the review period, the command recorded 115 seizures, including 6,743 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50 kg each), equivalent to 11 trailer loads. The seizures were made at various locations such as the Abeokuta, Ilaro and Ipokia/Idiroko axes. The total Duty Payable Value (DPV) of the seized goods is N231,218,506.

Makinde affirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining synergy with sister agencies across the state and fostering good community relations with traditional rulers, community leaders and youths. He urged residents to continue facilitating legitimate trade and to avoid any form of illicit activity that could harm the economy and tarnish their reputation.