The Nigeria Customs Service claimed that it reported 397 seizures of vehicles valued at N5.64bn in 2024, as it continued to enforce import laws and defend government revenue.
This was revealed by Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of Customs, in Abuja on Tuesday during a press conference about the service’s 2024 operations.
He said, “the service recorded significant seizures of other restricted items, including 3,785 bales of textiles valued at N945m, 183,527 bags of rice, various quantities of footwear, beverages, and other consumer goods, protecting local industries and supporting the government’s economic diversification agenda.”
“The service also recorded 397 seizures of vehicles valued at N5.64bn, as we continue to enforce import regulations and protect government revenue,” Adeniyi added.
The CGC also noted that “the service seized 1,716,656 litres of petroleum products from saboteurs diverting the products to neighboring countries” as a result of Operation Whirlwind, which was started earlier this year with assistance from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority under the Nigeria Petroleum Corporation Limited.
“Most significantly, our enforcement activities have yielded 55 arrests of suspects currently under investigation as we continue to dismantle the criminal networks behind these activities,” he said.
As the NCS continues to support lawful trade, Adeniyi emphasized that the holistic approach to enforcement is in line with both international commitments and national security goals, positioning the NCS as a key player in the country’s security architecture.
“The Service is actively expanding its technological infrastructure through the integration of geospatial technology and other cutting-edge solutions to further strengthen their enforcement capabilities,” the customs chief said.
“These technological advancements, coupled with capacity building and enhanced intelligence-gathering mechanisms, will significantly boost our surveillance and enforcement operations. The integration of these modern tools with our existing frameworks is a strategic investment in the future of Customs enforcement to ensure that we stay ahead of emerging threats as we continue to facilitate legitimate trade,” he concluded.