ZAINAB JUNAID
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Ogun 1 Area Command posted a revenue increase of N7.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, generating Forty Three Million, Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Four naira only, ₦43,412,794 through import duties and auction sales under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).
This depicted a significant improvement from the figure generated same period in 2024.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller MS Shuaibu disclosed this Information during a press briefing held on Tuesday 15 April 2025, at the Command’s Headquarters, Idiroko, Ogun State.
Comptroller Shuaibu showcasing some of the seizures made in the first quarter of 2025.
He underscored the Command’s commitment to facilitating legitimate trade and contributing to economic development.
Comptroller Shuaibu noted that under his supervision, the Command successfully seized a total of 161 smuggled items between January and March 2025, including arms, ammunition, and large quantities of Cannabis Sativa.
According to him, the seizures have a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N314,057,716, and were made at different locations including Abeokuta, Ilaro, and the Ipokia/Idiroko axis among others.
“These successes can be attributed to our intensive intelligence based operations which has aided our relentless anti-smuggling campaign and improved our seizure profile,” he stated.
The Area Controller highlighted details of the seizures to include; three single barrel long guns, four packs of 25 cartridges, 150 sacks of raw Cannabis Sativa, 10 cartons of Amoxicillin capsules, 7,242 bags of foreign parboiled rice, and four used vehicles.
Others are; 20 bags each of imported sugar and flour, 59 bags of POP cement, 22 vehicles, sacks of cowries, 12 cartons of Ghana soap, 843 used tyres, and 535 kegs of 25-litre PMS.
The seized cannabis have been formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Receiving the seizures, the NDLEA Commander, Idiroko special command, Segun Adeyeye commended the synergy between Customs and other security agencies.
He called for greater collaboration among all stakeholders, emphasising that the fight against drug abuse and illegal trafficking is a shared responsibility.
On Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the Command’s Helmsman underscored the importance of the recently launched “Customs Cares” initiative, saying it currently fosters meaningful development within host communities.
“Recently, we had the ‘Festival of Art’ for Economic Development themed ‘Cross-Border Trade: What It is and Why It Matters’, we used the opportunity to engage students, artisans, and stakeholders on the dangers of smuggling and the importance of lawful trade,” he concluded.
