Command generates ₦7.98bn revenue from January to August, vows tougher action against smuggling
By Suleiman Aremu | Solaremnews | Thursday, 10 September, 2026
The Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Area Command, has intercepted eight consignments comprising Tramadol, foreign spaghetti, foreign parboiled rice, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), used clothing and two luxury vehicles with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦604,333,592.
The Acting Area Controller of the Kwara Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, disclosed this during a press briefing, saying the seizures were made across various operational corridors within the Command as part of ongoing intelligence-led efforts to suppress smuggling, protect government revenue and safeguard national security.
Ogundeyi, who assumed duty as Acting Area Controller, said the press briefing was another opportunity for the Command to provide factual updates on its operations while promoting transparency, public accountability and national development.
He said the Command remained determined to prevent Kwara State and its border corridors from being used as safe havens or transit routes for illicit cross-border trade.
According to him, officers of the Command maintain an active presence across identified vulnerable corridors, relying on actionable intelligence, robust patrol operations and collaboration with sister security agencies.
Food Security
Ogundeyi clarified that the seizure of food products should not be interpreted as opposition by the Nigeria Customs Service to food availability or legitimate trade.
He explained that the Customs Service was enforcing laws governing cross-border trade, stressing that goods transported through unapproved routes, those that bypass regulatory checks or lack the required documentation would be intercepted.
According to him, the illegal influx of foreign food products through porous borders undermines Federal Government policies designed to encourage local agricultural production, protect domestic investments and strengthen the local value chain.
He said enforcement was also necessary to protect compliant traders from being disadvantaged by individuals who bypass established procedures to make illegal profits.
Summary of Seizures
The seizures presented by DC Ogundeyi include 80 bales and six sacks of used clothing intercepted along the Ogbomoso/Jebba axis, with a DPV of ₦32.3 million.
Also intercepted were 6,875 litres of Premium Motor Spirit along the Bukuro/Okuta/Chikanda axis, valued at ₦2.75 million.
The Command further seized 3,396 packets of Tramadol 100mg along the Okuta axis, with a DPV of ₦50.946 million.
Fourteen bags of Basmati rice, weighing 5kg each, were intercepted along the Bode-Saadu Expressway and valued at ₦350,000.
In another major interception, Customs officers seized 6,705 cartons of foreign spaghetti along the Bode-Saadu axis, with a DPV of ₦201.15 million.
The Command also intercepted 270 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg, across various locations, with a DPV of ₦25.245 million.
Two vehicles were also seized. They are a 2025 Toyota Highlander intercepted along the Bode-Saadu Expressway and valued at ₦214 million, and a 2018 Dodge Charger SXT intercepted along the Lagos/Kwara highway at Eyankorin, with a DPV of ₦77.592 million.
The combined DPV of all eight seizures stands at ₦604.333 million.
Tramadol, PMS Seizures
Ogundeyi described the interception of 3,396 packets of Tramadol 100mg, valued at more than ₦50.9 million, as a significant pharmaceutical security concern.
He said the seizure underscored the role of border enforcement in protecting public health and national security, noting that the uncontrolled entry of regulated substances posed serious risks to the public.
On the 6,875 litres of PMS intercepted along the Bukuro/Okuta/Chikanda axis, he said the operation helped prevent the diversion of strategic petroleum products intended for domestic consumption into illicit border markets.
He said smugglers continued to modify their tactics, making it necessary for the Command to remain vigilant across identified vulnerable corridors.
₦7.98bn Revenue Generated
The Kwara Area Command generated ₦7,978,338,031.21 in revenue for the Federal Government between January and August 2026.
Ogundeyi said the revenue performance demonstrated the Command’s commitment to maximising revenue while maintaining a balance between trade facilitation, enforcement and national security.
He said the Command would continue to deploy intelligence-driven strategies to ensure that legitimate businesses could operate within the law while illicit activities were decisively tackled.
Intelligence-Led Operations
Ogundeyi attributed the Command’s operational successes largely to intelligence-led enforcement.
He commended the Intelligence Unit and Customs Police Unit, particularly noting the enhanced momentum under the new leadership of the units, as well as officers and men of the Command for their dedication despite operating across vast and challenging terrains.
He also acknowledged the contributions of sister security agencies, stressing that trans-border crime could not be effectively tackled by a single agency.
According to him, inter-agency collaboration remains central to the Command’s operational strategy.
He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, for his strategic direction and continued support to the Command.
Call for Public Cooperation
Ogundeyi called on members of the public, border communities, traditional leaders and commercial transporters to regard border security as a shared responsibility.
He urged stakeholders to provide timely and credible intelligence that could assist security agencies in protecting the country’s economic interests and preventing cross-border crimes.
He also commended the media for its role in educating the public on the difference between legitimate international trade and illicit smuggling.
The Command, he said, would continue to give maximum support to legitimate trade while maintaining uncompromising enforcement against smuggling.
“Legitimate trade will receive our maximum support, but smuggling will encounter uncompromising enforcement,” he said.
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