Tag: Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has once again reaffirmed its commitment to secure border governance and facilitate transit trade, following the Federal Government’s approval to reopen the Tsamiya border corridor in Kebbi State

This was made known during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement held at the Government House, Kebbi State.

The engagement, which brought together security agencies, traditional leaders, economic operators, and international customs representatives, provided a strategic platform to examine practical measures to strengthen Nigeria’s northwest border architecture while ensuring that legitimate trade flows seamlessly under strict compliance protocols.

The reopening of the corridor underscores the Service’s ongoing drive to balance national security priorities with trade facilitation objectives, particularly along critical land routes and the River Niger corridor that connects Nigeria with neighbouring countries.

Speaking during the engagement, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, emphasised the importance of structured inter-agency and cross-border collaboration in addressing evolving transit trade and security challenges.

According to the CGC, “Criminal elements operate through cooperation, shared resources, and organised networks. This makes it imperative for security agencies to work together in a coordinated manner to effectively counter such threats.”

Read Also: PAGMI gains momentum as mining marshals flush out thousands of illegal miners in Kebbi

He noted that the Service is actively engaging customs authorities from the Niger Republic and the Republic of Benin, supported by the political will of President Bola Tinubu and President Patrice Talon, to resolve longstanding transit trade issues through coordinated Customs-to-Customs cooperation.

“Diversion of goods in transit is not peculiar to Nigeria; it is a cross-border challenge that requires coordinated enforcement, clear guidelines, and strict compliance to ensure that goods reach their intended destinations,” Adeniyi stated.

The CGC explained that the Tsamiya Corridor will operate under enhanced monitoring driven by ICT interconnectivity systems, strengthened profiling of licensed customs agents, and close surveillance of goods in transit. He warned that any truck found outside the approved route will be seized, and offenders prosecuted in line with transit regulations, referencing recent prosecutions as evidence of the Service’s firm enforcement approach.

He commended the Kebbi State Government for fostering a coordinated security environment. He acknowledged the contributions of retired senior customs officers from the state to the development of the Service and national security.

In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, highlighted the state’s commitment to supporting Customs and other security agencies by providing logistics, infrastructure, and community engagement in border areas.

“The Kebbi State Government remains committed to prioritising security and creating an enabling environment for security agencies to operate effectively, while ensuring that border communities benefit from sustained development,” the Governor said.

The stakeholders’ engagement attracted immediate past governor of Kebbi State and the Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu, former governor Usman Dakingari, Customs officials from the Republic of Benin, representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, and key economic operators, all expressing confidence that the renewed collaboration will enhance border security, strengthen regional trade, and position Kebbi State as a strategic hub for lawful economic activities.

The outgoing Area Controller, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Mohammed Shuaibu, said in Lagos yesterday, that the Unit intercepted prohibited goods worth over N10billion between 23rd of April and December 10, this year.

Shuaibu disclosed this during a brief handing over ceremony held at the Unit.

At the ceremony, Shuaibu, who was recently elevated to the position of Assistant Comptroller General of Customs (ACG Headquarters), handed over the mantle of leadership of the Unit to the newly appointed Area Controller , Aliyu Gambo.

At the colourful event, Shuaibu was showered with encomium and gift presentations by officers and men of the unit.

In his address, Shuaibu said, it was an honour for him to serve in the Unit.

According to him: “Today marks another significant milestone in my journey as a customs officer, as I formerly handover the leadership of the Controller of FOU Zone A to my successor this day 10th December 2025.

Read Read Also: BREAKING: Adeleke defects to Accord Party ahead of Osun 2026 guber primary

“It has been an honor to serve in this capacity, I remain grateful to the Almighty God and to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his management team for the confidence reposed in me.

Upon his resumption of office on 23rd of April this year, Shuaibu said, “I pledged to deploy my wealth of experience through intelligence driven operation, we have remained faithful to that commitment. I have witness tremendous dedication, resilience and team work from our officers.”

These collective efforts, Shuaibu added, “resulted in huge successes in our anti-smuggling operations, together, we confronted high profile challenges and we tackled emerging issues, we successfully thwarted the activities of smugglers to a minimal level.

During this period, he said, ” the unit recorded a total of 476 interceptions including 761 seizures and items valued at N10.1billion, these include; 38 trailers of foreign parboiled rice, 98 exotic tokunbo vehicles, 2,350 kg of Cannabis Sativa, 1,820 Jerrycans of PMS.

Others, he said, ” included; 15 assorted rifles, 4,841 rounds of ammunition, 2 industrial drones, 25kg of crystal metaphitamine, 4 cylinders of explosives each weighing 50kg, 20,000USD and 110CFA amounting to N31million which was handed over to the EFCC.

“A total of 38 suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures, additionally 8 containers of expired pharmaceutical products valued at N7.1billion were intercepted.

“Through its activities, the unit recovered a total sum of N419million from under-valuations, false declarations and subsequently issued Demand Notices where necessary.

“As I pass the baton to my successor, I am confident that the foundation we have built would continue to flourish. I urge all officers to extend the same spirit of cooperation, dedication and professionalism to the new Controller to strengthen the fight against smuggling” he said

On his part, Gambo Aliyu appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for the confidence reposed in him to serve in the new capacity.

He also commended Shuaibu for his commitment to service and for adding great value to the service mandate.

Compt Gambo assured that the FOU Zone A under his watch would consolidate on the achievements of ACG Shuaibu for even greater successes.

“I am aware of the enormous responsibilities that comes with this position, especially within the zone as strategic and dynamic as Lagos and it’s environs. However, I am confident that with the cooperation and professionalism of the gallant men and officers of this unit, we would continue to fulfil these mandate diligently.”

As we move forward together, he said, “our key focus areas would include among others; enhanced enforcement operations. We shall intensify intelligence driven operations to combat smuggling and all forms of illicit trade that threatens national security and economic growth.

“Secondly, high standards of integrity and discipline, as well as accountability would be non negotiable. Thirdly, we shall deepen collaboration with the stakeholders, sister agencies and community leaders to strengthen border security and facilitate lawful trade.

“On the aspect of capacity building and welfare, the motivation and welfare of officers would be prioritised to ensure improved efficiency and operational readiness.

Their operations, Gambo said, ” would be underpinned by reputation management, change management and compliance management,” he assured.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officially introduced its One-Stop-Shop (OSS) initiative, a major reform expected to shorten cargo clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours.

The initiative was unveiled during a meeting with NCS Management and Customs Area Controllers in Abuja.

The meeting, chaired by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, brought together senior officers to deliberate on the Service’s modernisation agenda and the role of leadership in driving reforms across commands.

Adeniyi described the OSS as a “transformative shift” in line with global best practices and the federal government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.

He stressed that the reform is designed to sanitise operations, reduce duplication of efforts, and ensure predictability in Customs procedures.

Read Also: Abuja-Kaduna train service set to resume next week

“The OSS initiative will not only shorten clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours, but it will also strengthen trader confidence, restore transparency, and make our operations more business-friendly,” the CGC said.

While acknowledging the role of technology in Customs operations, Adeniyi emphasised the importance of physical engagement with officers.

As much as technology has helped us, Adeniyi said, “It has its limits. There are moments when physical presence coming together under one roof adds weight and value to our deliberations. Meetings like this strengthen our unity of purpose and ensure we speak with one voice,” he noted.

Under the OSS framework, all Customs Units will work jointly on flagged declarations, eliminating multiple checks and reducing delays. Consignments cleared under the OSS will not be subject to re-interception, a move aimed at reducing costs and enhancing trade facilitation.

The Abuja meeting also provided a platform to review the Service’s accountability framework, including a new central dashboard that tracks clearance times, interventions, and stakeholder satisfaction.

Adeniyi assured the Customs Area Controllers that the reform would be piloted at Apapa, Tin Can Island, and Onne Ports before being rolled out nationwide, adding that the initiative is fully supported by the NCS Act 2023 and aligned with the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

“This is not just a policy. It is a statement of intent that reflects our determination to build a modern, transparent, and trader-friendly Customs Service,” he concluded.

After several responses and interventions on the OSS Initiative, the Customs Area Controllers pledged their full support, describing it as timely and necessary to reposition the Service for efficiency.

They assured the CGC of their readiness to drive the reform at their respective commands and to work in synergy toward achieving the 48-hour clearance target.

• Credits B’Odogwu credited for feat

The Tincan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a record-breaking single-day revenue collection of N16.4 billion, a milestone achieved through its new digital clearing platform, B’Odogwu.

The unprecedented sum of N16,411,402,227.27 was recorded on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, and is being hailed by officials as a direct result of the efficiency of the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS), known as B’Odogwu.

In a statement released yesterday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, described the achievement as a “clear win for technological efficiency and collaboration.” He attributed the success to the B’Odogwu system’s ability to streamline port operations by eliminating delays and administrative bottlenecks.

“The B’Odogwu system has drastically improved the ability of licensed Customs agents and stakeholders to access payment platforms and complete cargo clearance processes in real-time, without unnecessary delays or administrative bottlenecks,” Onyeka was quoted as saying by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Customs Oscar Ivara.

The Comptroller elaborated that the system’s integration of all key port and Customs operations onto a single digital interface has been a game-changer. This, he noted, has enabled faster processing, accurate valuation, and enhanced monitoring of cargo activities, creating a more predictable and efficient operating environment for all port users.

Read Also: FG tagets N24bn annual savings from BisonFly initiative

Onyeka emphasised that the record figure signifies more than just financial gain, reflecting a fundamental modernisation of port processes and the success of collaborative efforts with stakeholders.

He said: “This record-breaking revenue figure is not just about numbers, it reflects the game-changing role of the B’Odogwu system in modernising port operations and further highlights the benefits of the Command’s continued collaboration with all relevant stakeholders, which includes terminal operators, shipping companies, licensed Customs agents, and regulatory agencies.”

He reiterated the command’s ongoing commitment to its core mandates, stating, “The Command remains dedicated to enhancing trade facilitation, securing revenue for national development, and supporting all port users in achieving timely and cost-effective cargo clearance.”

This landmark revenue collection is expected to bolster confidence in the government’s ongoing efforts to digitise and simplify port operations, a critical component for driving national economic growth.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) yesterday handed over 25 containers filled with unregistered pharmaceutical products to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The seized items included sexual enhancement drugs such as REDSUN and HYEGRA (sildenafil citrate products), codeine-containing cough syrups like CSC brands, antibiotic injections including oxytetracycline and artesunate, pain relief medications with diclofenac sodium and paracetamol, skin-lightening creams marketed as GBOGBONISE and SKIN CHEMIST, hip and breast enlargement products, as well as various tablets bearing fake NAFDAC registration numbers.

Addressing reporters at the handover, the Comptroller-General of the Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed that the shipments, mostly imported from India, have a street value of ₦9.2 billion.

He stated that the handover was a result of ongoing collaboration between Customs and NAFDAC, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in November 2024, and the subsequent formation of an implementation committee that has already yielded notable enforcement successes.

The CGC explained that the MoU has facilitated coordinated operations and joint investigations aimed at tracing sources of illicit pharmaceuticals and deploying targeted strategies to dismantle criminal networks.

He said intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration have become central to enforcement under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, leading to measurable achievements in public health protection and anti-smuggling efforts.

Adeniyi reaffirmed Customs’ commitment to strengthening the security of seaports, airports and land borders through intelligence-led operations, supported by real-time collaboration with regulatory bodies. The seizures, he said, consisted of 21 forty-foot and four twenty-foot containers containing a range of counterfeit and unregistered pharmaceutical products, along with prohibited substances that pose a grave threat to public health.

Read Also: AGF seeks adequate protection for whistleblowers

These include expired food items such as margarine and chocolate, veterinary medicines like albendazole bolus tablets, anti-malarial drugs such as Artepharm-Artequick, and consumer goods including crusader soap.

Adeniyi added that the seizures expose disturbing patterns of misdeclaration and deliberate attempts to circumvent import regulations.

He praised the operational synergy between Customs and NAFDAC, noting that the Director-General’s timely intelligence—including alerts received even at midnight—has proven critical in intercepting suspicious shipments.

He commended the dedication and technical expertise of NAFDAC officials, which, combined with Customs enforcement capacity, has formed a formidable barrier against smuggling networks.

He said that the Nigeria Customs Service, in collaboration with NAFDAC and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), remains resolute in its fight against those he described as “merchants of death” who profit from the sale of dangerous and unapproved products that harm individuals and communities.

According to him, joint operations coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser have led to the seizure of over 200 containers, with unregistered pharmaceutical products accounting for 63.7 per cent of the total seizure value.

He warned that had these shipments reached the market, they would have posed severe consequences for human life and the nation’s social fabric.