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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎Barely taking over the mantle of leadership in the Ogun 1 Customs Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) following the transfer of Comptroller Godwin Otunla to the Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, the ‘brand new’ Acting Customs Area Controller (CAC), Deputy Controller O. O. Afeni, within 11 days, confiscated smuggled items valued at over ₦2 billion. These include exotic cars worth over N28 million. It is recalled that D.C. Afeni mounted the saddle on December 4, 2025 when he was appointed a CAC on acting capacity.
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‎Addressing journalists at the Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko , Wednesday, the acting Area Controller declared a renewed crackdown on smuggling activities. He sounded a note of warning to smugglers saying that with him in charge, there will be no hiding place for perpetrators within the Command’s jurisdiction.
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‎Different illicit items the  Command intercepted include 16 parcels of heroin (16kg) valued at ₦240 million, 3,355 wraps of Cannabis Sativa worth ₦435.08 million, 2,200 kegs of foreign groundnut oil valued at ₦264 million, and 5,417 cartons of foreign spaghetti estimated at ₦162.51 million. The seizure, the Acting CAC observed underscores the command’s intensified efforts to curb the influx of illicit drugs and smuggled goods through Nigeria’s southwestern border corridors.
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‎Also confiscated were narcotics which were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Accepting the narcotics, the Idiroko Area Commander of NDLEA, Ekundayo Williams commended DC Afeni for what he described as spectacular seizures.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎Barely three years since the commencement of port operations, the Lekki Deepsea has achieved half of its projected operational capacity. There has been a noticeable spike in container throughput especially since September, 2025, and chances are that the establishment will meet her full operational capacity before expectations. With this incredible growth rate, the port is set to overtake others in Nigeria by next year.

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‎ Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Ltd, Mr. Wang Qiang disclosed this in Lagos, Tuesday, during an end-of-the-year interaction and media tour of the facility to observe scanners, Customs at work and shipside night offloading of containers from a vessel at the quayside.
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‎Mr Qiang who featured alongside other members of the top management of the port during the media chat said Lekki Deepsea Port currently operates at close to 50 percent capacity, reflecting increasing confidence by shipping lines and cargo owners in the ability of Nigeria’s first deep seaport to deliver not only for the local and regional market but even beyond. Top management officers present during the media parley included Weilian Zhong, C.O.O, Lekki Port, Jedrzej Mierzewski and Ajay Tyagi
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‎“We already reached 50 per cent of our capacity now – almost 50 per cent of the port capacity,” he stated. He attributed this development to steady improvement in the number of twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) the port handles monthly.
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‎He said cooperation is needed from stakeholders to improve efficiency badly needed in cargo movement. Critical stakeholders include government, the business community, importers, exporters (foreign and local). On trans-shipment, Qiang implored cooperation by all to achieve competitive trans -shipment. Efficient multimodal connectivity, he explained, is crucial in efforts to accelerate and maintain the desired growth at the port.
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‎Barge operations, the Lekki Port boss said, has become an important means of evacuating cargo as it currently accounts for about 10% means of cargo movement. Since inception, the port has moved 3000 TEUs of cargo even as plans are in top gear to improve on the capacity.
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‎On concerns about cargo dwell time, he announced that Lekki Deepsea Port cannot, on its own, reduce this. Importers, Customs, banks and all other players must collaborate to resolve issues of cargo dwell time. When cargoes move seamlessly, the port makes money.
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‎The Lagos -Calabar coastal road is one infrastructure that will be of huge assistance in stemming down congestion, improve overall access and cargo evaluation from Lekki Deepsea Port, he explained. Even then, he added, rail connectivity remains essential, particularly given the quantum of industrial activities taking place along the Lekki corridor.
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‎“I believe the train option is something the government is concerned about, and with the level of industrial activities in this region, we expect that it will be provided,” he added.
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‎While reiterating that Lekki Port is a fully automated terminal, Wang asserted that delays may persist until all stakeholders, including government agencies, fully align with end-to-end digital processes.
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‎He explained that Customs procedures, particularly physical cargo examinations, and other port services must be fully digitalised to significantly reduce cargo dwell time.
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‎Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Freeport Terminal (LFT), Capt. Jedrzej Mierzewski, expressed excitement that after only two years of operations, LFT has already become the number two terminal in the Nigerian market.
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‎“We are the fastest-growing terminal in the country, combining modern infrastructure, operational excellence, and a clear ambition to become a leading transshipment hub for West Africa.
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‎“Our growth supports the Nigerian economy by strengthening trade connectivity and helping to reduce the cost of foreign trade through efficient, reliable, and competitive port services.
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‎“For automation to work efficiently, all players must be ready – customers, government and every stakeholder. Only then can we have a fantastic system.”
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‎He also stressed that improved connectivity would allow the port to effectively double capacity through performance optimisation without expanding its physical footprint.
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‎Speaking on the new tax regime coming into effect in 2026, he urged the government to adopt a simplified tax framework that supports ease of doing business. He cited Germany and other countries where goods are cleared from ports with a 30-day window allowed for value added tax (VAT) remittance.
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‎By Izuchukwu Ozoemena
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‎ In a strong determination to deepen her unwavering commitment to combat financial crimes, taking full advantage of the existing synergy between the Nigeria Customs Service and sister-agencies especially in the fight against financial crimes, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Tuesday, handed over seized undeclared foreign currencies to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). These are €651,505 and $800,575 in Euro and USD denominations respectively.
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‎Speaking while handing over the seized foreign currencies, the MMIA Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Chidi Nwokorie disclosed that the interception was made at about 1445 hrs on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Departure Terminal-1, when one Mr KAVLAK OENAL, an Austrian national with Passport No. AP0084116 was scheduled to travel on Emirate Airline to Dubai and was asked if he had any currency to declare but he said he had none.
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‎As part of ongoing efforts by the Customs to enforce customs regulations in  collaboration with law enforcement agencies, a search was conducted.

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‎”However, after conducting a search, the amount mentioned above was found in his travelling bag. This contravenes the extant laws that mandate all travellers (Inbound and Outbound) to declare foreign currencies or negotiable instruments above $10,000 threshold or its equivalent,” Comptroller Nwokorie said.
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‎”It’s worthy of note here that this interception aligns with the Laws and Acts which empower and confer on the Nigeria Customs Service the right to prevent illicit financial flows and ensure strict implementation of anti money laundering obligations at all borders, particularly, Section 12 of the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provision) Act, 1995; Section 3 (3-5) of Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022 and Section 55 (1) of the NCS Act 2023″
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‎Talking about currencies on transit, he advised the general public to note that
‎ failure to declare, false declaration or under-declaration of the prescribed amount constitutes an offence under the law.
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‎”Therefore, I urge you, if you don’t have anything to hide and you’re into legitimate business and trade, make an honest and full declaration of your currency and other negotiable instruments that are above the threshold of $10,000 at the Currency Declaration Desks in the Arrival and Departure Halls of the Airport or risk being prosecuted and losing the money to the Federal Government.”
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‎”So, on behalf of the Nigeria Customs Service and with the kind permission of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the said Passenger, Mr Kavlak OENAL, his International Passport and the undeclared currencies (€651,505 & $800, 575) found on him are hereby duly handed over to the Operatives of the Economic Financial Crime Commission for further necessary actions.”
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‎Comptroller Nwokorie offered special thanks to the CGC, Bashir  Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, for his strong motivation.
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‎”My vigilant and gallant officers, especially those in AML/CFT Unit who resisted every temptation of compromise to intercept this money and make this press conference a reality today, you showed discipline! You showed professionalism! You showed integrity! The Command is proud of you! The CGC is proud of you! The Service is proud of you and Nigeria is indeed proud of you!”
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