Customs seizes contraband worth N273.7m in Cross River

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted prohibited imported goods valued at over N273 million in Cross River State, as part of efforts to protect local manufacturers and preserve jobs.

Speaking at a press briefing in Calabar yesterday, the Customs Area Controller for Cross River/Calabar Free Trade Zone/Akwa Ibom Area Command, Comptroller Giwa Dauda, said the seizures were part of ongoing efforts to safeguard Nigerian manufacturers from smuggling and illegal importation. He said officers intercepted two 20-foot containers carrying 1,996 kegs of foreign refined vegetable oil along the Odukpani-Calabar Highway on June 14, with a Duty Paid Value of N195.5 million.

The products were concealed in a truck stopped during a routine patrol. Dauda noted that vegetable oil remains a product in which Nigerian manufacturers have invested heavily, explaining that allowing prohibited foreign products into the domestic market would undermine local production capacity, discourage investment, and threaten thousands of jobs across the agricultural and manufacturing value chains. He said such items are listed under the Federal Government’s import prohibition policy, aimed at stimulating local production, promoting self-sufficiency, and strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base. Beyond the vegetable oil seizure, the Command also intercepted 1,500 used tyres and 105 jumbo bales of second-hand clothing. Combined with other seizures, the total Duty Paid Value of prohibited items recovered stood at N273.7 million. Dauda further disclosed that officers intercepted 800 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), bringing the Command’s total petrol seizures for 2026 to 5,760 litres.

He said the product was disposed of in line with approved safety procedures due to its highly combustible nature.

The Area Controller warned smugglers and economic saboteurs to desist from illegal importation, stressing that such practices weaken local industries, distort market competition, and undermine government efforts to achieve economic diversification through industrialisation.