Idiroko, Ogun State – June 23, 2025 – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated its unwavering commitment to robust border security operations in Ogun State as part of ongoing efforts to combat smuggling and safeguard national economic interests.
Speaking during a press briefing at the NCS Ogun 1 Area Command headquarters in Idi Iroko, Comptroller James Otunla reaffirmed that the Service remains fully alert and ready to neutralize threats along Nigeria’s porous southwestern borders. He emphasized that enhanced surveillance, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration have been deployed to keep the borders secure and uphold the nation’s trade integrity.
“Our renewed strategy is clear—no room for saboteurs of the economy. We are tightening our grip against smuggling networks, particularly those dealing in foreign rice, petroleum products, used vehicles, and illicit drugs,” Otunla stated.
According to the Comptroller, recent enforcement actions led to multiple seizures including:
1,800 bags of foreign parboiled rice,
24,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) concealed in jerry cans,
several used vehicles smuggled without payment of duty, and
various contraband items intercepted at illegal crossing points in Idiroko, Imeko, and Ijoun.
Comptroller Otunla added that the command recorded significant revenue through duty recovery and auction sales, despite the border region being more enforcement-oriented than revenue-driven.
He praised the dedication of Customs officers in the face of operational risks, highlighting that some personnel have faced violent resistance from smugglers. He called on border communities to support Customs’ lawful activities, noting that their cooperation is critical to national economic security.
The Ogun State command, he said, remains aligned with the national anti-smuggling campaign and the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in modernizing customs operations and enforcing the law with fairness and firmness.
Otunla concluded by warning criminal elements that the command would sustain its zero-tolerance policy against smuggling, while also extending a hand of partnership to legitimate traders willing to comply with Nigeria’s import and export regulations.
As Nigeria continues to tighten its border controls to curb revenue leakages and protect local industries, the NCS’s operations in Ogun remain a strategic frontline in the national security and economic protection architecture.
