By Peace Udugba — The Daily Torch Media
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigerian farmers, manufacturers and businesses from prohibited imports, false declarations and other practices capable of undermining local production and job creation.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, while briefing journalists at the Port Harcourt II Area Command in Onne, Rivers State.
Adeniyi said the Service had intercepted 56 containers containing prohibited goods with a total duty-paid value of N5.53 billion.
He explained that the seizures were part of intelligence-driven and risk-based operations aimed at preventing prohibited, restricted and improperly declared consignments from entering the Nigerian market.
Photo Page 1: Highlights from the event in pictures.
According to him, unchecked importation of products that could be produced or processed locally places additional pressure on Nigerian farmers, manufacturers and other domestic producers.
Photo Page 2: Highlights from the event in pictures.
He said such imports could expose local businesses to unfair competition, weaken demand for locally produced goods and discourage investment across domestic value chains.
“The economic impact is especially significant in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors,” Adeniyi said, noting that large-scale importation of products Nigeria could produce or process could undermine efforts to promote local industries, strengthen food security, create jobs and diversify the economy.
The Customs boss stressed that enforcement measures were not designed to frustrate legitimate businesses but to ensure that compliant traders operate within a fair, secure and predictable trading environment.
He added that the Service’s risk-based approach allows Customs to facilitate legitimate cargo while subjecting consignments considered high-risk to enhanced scrutiny.
Adeniyi commended the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Aliyu Alkali, and officers of the Port Harcourt II Area Command for the interceptions.
He also advised importers and other stakeholders to establish the admissibility of their intended imports before commencing transactions.
The CGC urged importers to make accurate declarations covering the description, quantity, value, origin and classification of goods.
The intercepted consignments comprised 45 20-foot containers of foreign vegetable oil, nine 40-foot containers of used clothing and two 20-foot containers of Channy tomato paste.
Adeniyi said the seizures were consistent with the Federal Government’s broader economic objectives, particularly policies aimed at promoting locally manufactured and processed goods.
