By Muyideen Aliyu
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, has announced a significant boost in its enforcement and revenue collection efforts. On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the Acting Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, disclosed that the command generated over N2.5 billion in excise revenue within the past two months.
During a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Ilorin, Ogundeyi also showcased a series of high-profile seizures of prohibited items, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) exceeding N478 million.
He described these interdictions as a clear demonstration of the command’s intelligence-driven enforcement strategy, aimed at curbing smuggling and protecting Nigeria’s national economy.
Among the items seized were 1,107 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 317 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) suspected to be intended for cross-border smuggling, 120 sacks of illegally mined lithium ore, 44 bags of imported sugar, and various second-hand vehicles, tyres, and used compressors intercepted at patrol bases across the state.
The Acting Controller emphasized that the illegal importation of foreign rice and other contraband continues to threaten domestic agricultural growth and undermines the livelihoods of local farmers.
“Despite repeated warnings, some criminal elements continue to engage in acts of economic sabotage,” Ogundeyi stated. “We will not allow Kwara to serve as a safe haven for illegal trade.”
Ogundeyi commended the critical role of inter-agency collaboration in addressing complex trans-border crimes and thanked the media for its ongoing support in public awareness.
He urged Nigerians to embrace legitimate trade, reaffirming that the fight against economic crime is a collective responsibility essential for sustainable national development.
