Customs records 88 vegetable oil seizures worth N1.314bn
By Efe Onodjae
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has disclosed that it recorded 88 seizures of smuggled vegetable oil products valued at N1.314 billion in Duty Paid Value, DPV, between 2025 and 2026, as it unveiled plans to strengthen intelligence-driven operations to curb illicit imports and protect local investments.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made the disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting with operators in the vegetable oil industry at the Service Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja.
Adeniyi said the Service remained committed to combating smuggling through strategic enforcement, intelligence gathering and sustained collaboration with industry stakeholders, stressing that Customs and operators in the sector share a common objective of protecting legitimate businesses, preserving jobs and supporting economic growth.
According to him, tackling smuggling effectively requires continuous cooperation between government agencies and the private sector, particularly in sectors that contribute significantly to employment generation and national development.
He called on stakeholders to support the Service’s enforcement efforts by providing credible intelligence on smuggling routes and illicit trade activities.
“Fighting smuggling is a continuous process that requires intelligence, policy support and collaboration. We value constructive engagement with stakeholders and will continue to strengthen our partnership with the private sector,” he said.
Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, Timi Bomodi, said the Service had intensified efforts against the illegal importation of vegetable oil products.
Bomodi disclosed that Customs recorded 65 seizures of vegetable oil products in 2025 and an additional 23 seizures in 2026, bringing the total number of interceptions to 88, with a combined DPV of approximately N1.314 billion.
He noted that most of the seizures were made along major smuggling corridors, including Seme Border and Idiroko Border, adding that surveillance would be strengthened in other vulnerable locations identified by the Service.
“We recorded about 65 seizures of vegetable oil products in 2025 and another 23 seizures in 2026, with a combined Duty Paid Value of approximately N1.314 billion,” he stated.
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