Maritime Agencies
JANUARY TO MARCH: Tincan Customs Realized N240bn, Intercepted 11 Rifles, Illicit Drugs, etc
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In the first two-and-a-half months of 2024, the Tincan Command of the Nigeria Customs Service realized a revenue of N240,302 million even as the Command’s monthly target stands at N94 billion.
For January and February, the Command surpassed her expected revenue target of 188billion.
Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Deraa Nnadi disclosed this to the press, Friday. He congratulated the Command’s
stakeholders who have been responsible for the payment of this duty but most importantly, officers of the Service and other esteemed stakeholders including the press family for helping to sustain some of these achievements.
He disclosed that for the month of January, the command surpassed its revenue collection by 107%.
“For the month of February, it was also surpassed by 140%. So, consistently, we keep improving”, the CAC assured.
On arms seizures, the CAC displayed 11 guns including pump action guns, 6 pistols including semi-automatic arms and pepper spray guns, military vests, among others.
In collaboration with the NDLEA, her partner agency, the Command also confiscated psychotropic substances imported into Nigeria.
Handing over the seized items to the DSS and the NDLEA, Nnadi said:“The Command’s anti-smuggling drive has yielded the following results: one 20P 9964 Rifle; another 20P 9964 Rifle; one Pump Action Rifle; one Practical Tactical 30H 80019922 Rifle; another 20P 992 Rifle; two AV Pump Action Rifle; and yet another P10115 Rifle. In total, we seized 11 Rifles and six Pistols from different containers imported into the country at different times.”
Also confiscated are several kilograms of Cannabis Indica and 23 packages containing 23 kilograms of Heroin concealed in a container. The Command, he said, is mum on further disclosures regarding this so as not to endanger ongoing investigations.
“Let me state that our resolve to make these seizures is further support to the efforts of the federal government to keep the nation safe. As you are all aware, the conveyors of these products intend to use them for nefarious activities that includes support to the insurgents, kidnapping activities and other vices that are inimical to the well-being and security of our nation.”
He beckoned on the Command’s stakeholders to join and support the recently unveiled Time Release Study initiative aimed at measuring the time it takes to take delivery of cargo from the ship side when the cargo is dropped till it enters the owner’s warehouse.
“It is a World Customs Organization- supported programme that will further help to optimize service delivery in our seaports and in our business process”.
He requested the press to keep highlighting this because it is a tool for the WCO to measure the time it takes to deliver cargo.
“As far back as 2006, we have been promoting the idea of 48 hours cargo clearance. In fact, as some of you may recall, during my second media briefing with you, I said that by now, we should be talking about 24 hours cargo clearance and not 48 hours because from 2006 till now, we have come a long way and we should have improved beyond this.”
“The question is, are we already achieving less than 48 hours? Yes, we have. But certain circumstances, when you take the average time it takes to clear cargo, overall, we have not done so much and that is why the Time Release Study was introduced to measure the time it takes to take delivery of cargo from the port.”
He hailed the press for helping to propagate some of the ideas.
“As you all know, we said that the time for delivering our result for this Time Release Study is six months. But like I said at Marriott Hotel during the launch, we try as much as possible to reduce the time- frame and deliver the result earlier than six months”.
Elaborating on inter-agency collaboration, the CAC vowed that the Service would not rest on its oars.
“This collaboration,” he announced, “has been existing since 2017 when barge operation was introduced. Successive governments have set up task forces to find solutions to this. All government agencies have been involved. We’re going to consolidate on the gains already achieved and ensure these are sustained.”
“As you also know, on assumption of office, the Comptroller-General of Customs made it a point of duty to visit all security and government agencies. He visited the IG of Police, National Security Adviser, Chief of Army Staff. For the NDLEA, we signed an MOU on collaboration. At the strategic level, we’re collaborating. At the operational level in the ports we’re collaborating and the results are showing.”
He strongly suggested that same collaboration be extended to the tactical level which is the lowest level of Customs administration to include training opportunities.
“Talking about training, just three days ago, the CGC was at Jaji to kick off 2024 ‘Exercise Haske Biu’, a joint exercise organized by the Nigerian military for all security agencies ranging from Customs, the Police, Immigration, NDLEA, Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force. I have been a participant at ‘Haske Biu’ twice as team leader and once to deliver a paper. So, you can see that all these are a sustained effort. Rome was not built in a day!
Regarding concerns on the source of the seized arms, Nnadi commended the media for being so smart to identify when information is not being given out.
“You also notice that I did not give out container numbers. What we try to do is to protect some of these information in order not to jeopardize investigations.”
Customs
Ogun 1 Customs Hosts FAED 2026, Highlights Gains of Cross-Border Cooperation, Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Development.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
The Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC), Ogun Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller O.O.Afeni says the Festival of Arts For Economic Development (FAED) continues to reflect a shared understanding that sustainable border management goes beyond enforcement to encompass cross-border cooperation, economic empowerment and entrepreneurship development within the border communities.
Deputy Comptroller Afeni spoke at the Idiroko Border, Thursday, while declaring open the international colloquium to mark the 5th edition of the Festival of Art for Economic Development to which the Nigeria Customs Service is a strategic partner.
He said: “The theme, ‘Rebranding Borderline Communities through Creative Empowerment and Entrepreneurship,’ aligns with the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to supporting legitimate trade, encouraging value addition, and promoting small-scale enterprises as drivers of economic growth and border stability.
Dr Bonny Abisogun Botoku, Executive Producer, FAED.
He acknowledged the important role of the Nigeria–Benin Inter-Border Forum, under the leadership of its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Bonny Abisogun Botoku in advancing preventive diplomacy, structured dialogue and operational cooperation between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.
”Through the empowerment programmes and entrepreneurship initiatives embedded in this Festival, we see practical pathways to reducing illicit activities, strengthening lawful commerce, and fostering inclusive economic opportunities for our people.”
Deborah Chiamaka Nwangene, one of the graduating trainees.
”The Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to partnerships that promote peaceful borders, resilient economies and sustainable regional integration.”
During a brief press chat, Comptroller Afeni spoke about enforcing government fiscal policies, saying that this must not be by force.
”The citizens must be made to know the reasons we are here. This is a way of showing the communities that we care about them. You can see that we have trained some people in the art of garri- making painting tye and dye (adire), etc. It’s a way of empowering the community.”
On suggestions that the seminar is capable of deepening cordial relationship between Benin and Nigeria, the CAC could not agree less.
”It is the fifth edition. It has been a situation we see the succeeding version getting better than the previous one. Today, I signed many certificates of people graduating. We’re not just training them; we’re empowering them so that we take them off the smuggling realm and make them better citizens.”
In his presentation, the Executive Producer of the Festival, Dr Bonny Abisogun Botoku described it as more than an event.
”It is a movement. It is a statement of belief—that border communities are not problems to be managed, but potentials to be unlocked.”
He recalled that for too long, border communities across Africa have been spoken about only in the language of risks exemplified in smuggling, insecurity, informality and marginalization.
”But those of us who live and work at the borders know a deeper truth. Borders are not just lines on maps. They are meeting points of culture, gateways of trade,
and spaces of shared history.
Sample of garri processed and packaged by a trainee.
”The Nigeria–Benin border is not a dividing line—it is a shared civilization. What we are doing through this Festival is to change the story from suspicion to trust, from survival to enterprise,
from isolation to integration.
Contrary to the widely-held belief that culture only concerns entertainment, he explained, culture is power, identity and economic capital.
”Through art, music, fashion, crafts, food systems, and storytelling, communities rediscover pride, cohesion, and voice.
Culture becomes a language of peace, dialogue, and diplomacy—especially in border spaces where differences must be managed with wisdom.
”This Festival deliberately places culture at the center of development, not at the margins.”
Distinguished guests at the event included the Onitaege of Itaege, HRM Oba Matthew Ademola Abisoye and other respected traditional rulers, government officials and representatives of security agencies. Others were partners from the Republic of Benin, artists, cultural practitioners and trainees.
Maritime Agencies
We’re Ever Proactive In Intercepting Prohibited, Falsely Declared Goods, says Controller Onyeka.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
In line with the core mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service, the Tincan Island Port Command is ever proactive in intercepting prohibited and falsely declared goods even as it remains committed to facilitate legitimate trade while contributing significantly to revenue generation.
The falsely declared goods include controlled pharmaceuticals, arms and ammunition, narcotics and other items capable of undermining public safety, security and stability.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Frank Onyeka stated this in Lagos, Friday, while formally handing over three (3) units of 20 ft containers containing expired pharmaceutical products to the National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for appropriate regulatory action.
”The containers include two units with numbers PONU031958/6 and MSKU 711656/0 which were found to contain expired Tramadol tablets,” Onyeka announced.
”These consignments were thoroughly examined and the result revealed that the first container contained 86 cartons of Vingil Tramadol BP 50 mg while the second container held 250 cartons of the same expired Tramadol product”.
”The third container with number MSKU413519/1 was found to contain 370 cartons of expired Declofenac Sodium BP 50 mg tablets without a valid NAFDAC registration number, making the consignment illegal and dangerous for public use.”
Beyond these seizures, he explained, the Tincan Command has continued to record notable achievements in recent times through intensified cargo examination, improved intelligence gathering and sustained enforcement operations. These achievements are the result of deliberate strategies anchored on discipline, integrity and strong inter -agency collaboration.
He showed special appreciation to the operatives of NAFDAC for their consistent cooperation.
”Our synergy has continued to yield positive results particularly in ensuring that fake, substandard and expired drugs are intercepted before reaching the Nigerian populace.”
He equally commended officers and men of the Command for being resilient and committed to duty, a development that has continued to strengthen the credibility and operational effectiveness of the Command.
”Furthermore, I express our sincere appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, MFR, psc (+) for his purposeful leadership and strategic reforms which have empowered our operations.”
The CAC later handed over the prohibited pharmaceuticals to Mr Kareem Taiwo Adekunle, the Chief Regulatory Officer (Investigation and Inspection Directorate), NAFDAC, Apapa.
Maritime Agencies
Zone ‘A’ Coordinator, Mohammed Babandede, Visits Apapa Command, Commends Officers’ Sterling Performance.
By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
Officers and men of the Apapa Customs Command have received a special commendation for maintaining an exceptional performance in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations and trade facilitation throughout 2025.
Mohammed Babandede, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG) and Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service handed down the commendation during his familiarization visit to the Command, Thursday.
Chief Superintendent of Customs, Isa Sulaiman, the image maker of the Apapa Customs Command disclosed this in a press release.
Addressing officers and men during the visit, the image maker stated, the Zonal Coordinator explained that the purpose of his coming was to acknowledge the operational challenges faced by the Command, appreciate its notable achievements and further boost the morale of personnel who have consistently surpassed expectations, particularly in revenue collection where the Command exceeded its annual target.
”The ACG also lauded the Command’s sustained anti-smuggling efforts, especially the significant seizures of narcotics and other illicit substances including cocaine and tramadol, describing these interceptions as critical contributions to national security, public health and societal safety. ”
Effective enforcement, the ACG emphasized, remains fundamental to creating a secure environment for legitimate trade to thrive.
While noting that the core responsibilities of the Service extend beyond revenue generation to include national security, public safety and trade facilitation, the Zonal Coordinator commended the Apapa Command for its effective inter-agency collaboration. He urged officers to deepen cooperation with sister agencies, particularly in the deployment and promotion of trade facilitation tools that have positioned the Service at an upper-class operational rating.
The Zonal Coordinator further stressed the importance of integrity, reputational management, mentorship and capacity building within the Command. He urged senior officers to transfer knowledge and experience to younger officers while also drawing attention to the importance of officers’ welfare and health, disclosing that drug tests would be conducted across Commands. He advised officers to remain health-conscious for effective service delivery.
In his remarks, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, expressed appreciation to the Zonal Coordinator whose February 5 visit was motivating and timely. He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining its performance in revenue generation, enforcement, trade facilitation, inter-agency cooperation and ethical conduct in strict adherence to the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 and the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Adewale Adeniyi.
Ogun 1 Customs Hosts FAED 2026, Highlights Gains of Cross-Border Cooperation, Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurial Development.
We’re Ever Proactive In Intercepting Prohibited, Falsely Declared Goods, says Controller Onyeka.
Zone ‘A’ Coordinator, Mohammed Babandede, Visits Apapa Command, Commends Officers’ Sterling Performance.
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