The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked its Committees on Customs and Excise and Defence, to investigate the alleged complicity of three Nigerian Customs Service in smuggling activities and incidents of brutality against the service.
During the investigation, the House Committees are to examine the role of military personnel attached to the Customs patrol team to ascertain whether their operations comply with legal frameworks and human rights standards.
Adopting a motion of urgent sponsored by Sesi Otuwaseun Whingan (APC, Lagos), the House directs the committees to recommend appropriate measures to enhance oversight, accountability, and efficiency within the Nigeria Customs Service to restore public trust and safeguard Nigeria’s economic and national security interests.
Whingan said that by Section 4 (b, e, and f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is mandated to collect revenue, prevent smuggling and customs fraud, and ensure the security of Nigeria’s borders.
He said recent media reports exposed the mass smuggling of over 2,000 cars carrying 6,500,000kg of rice through Badagry under the watch of Customs officers, with videos of evidence of complicity by Customs officers in these illegal activities.
He alleged that reports of brutality have emerged, including an incident along the Badagry-Seme Expressway on December 1, 2024, where officers from the Nigerian Customs Service, in collaboration with soldiers, violently assaulted two transporters, Taofeek Olatunbosun and Rafiu Abdelmalik.
According to him, the victims were suspected of documenting smuggling activities, leading to threats against their lives and a standoff that required intervention from residents and police.
He said that smuggling has severe economic consequences, including undermining local industries, reducing government revenue, promoting unfair trade practices, and flooding markets with substandard and potentially harmful products.
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The lawmaker argued that the actions of some officers within the Nigerian Customs Service contravene its core mandate, erode public trust, and raise concerns about the oversight of joint security operations involving military personnel.
He said: “Despite the presence of multiple checkpoints during the day, particularly in Badagry and other border communities in the nation, economic activities and legitimate trade are paralyzed by excessive scrutiny and extortion by Customs officers and other law enforcement personnel.
“At night, these same Officers reportedly enable or turn a blind eye to rampant smuggling activities, undermining public trust and perpetuating economic hardship Small businesses, such as rice farmers and poultry producers, are unable to compete with the influx of contraband goods, leading to job losses and impoverishment.
“Furthermore, the erosion of law and order in border regions like Badagry threatens community stability, leaving citizens vulnerable and disillusioned.
“The complicity of Customs officers in smuggling operations and the use of violence to intimidate civilians pose significant risks to national security, economic stability, and the rule of law.
“The integrity of the Nigerian Customs Service is essential for securing Nigeria’s borders, facilitating legitimate trade, and upholding the economic and social well-being of the nation. Addressing these lapses 5 critical to restoring public confidence and ensuring the sovereignty of the country”.