RismadarVoice Reporters
September 17, 2026
The Nigeria Customs Service has announced the seizure of 56 containers carrying prohibited goods valued at approximately ₦5.53 billion at the Port Harcourt II Area Command in Onne, Rivers State.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed the seizures while presenting the containers to journalists at the command.
According to Customs, 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.
The seized goods had a combined duty-paid value of ₦5.53 billion.
CUSTOMS TARGETS PROHIBITED IMPORTS
Adeniyi said the interceptions resulted from intelligence-led and risk-based operations designed to prevent prohibited, restricted and improperly declared goods from entering the Nigerian market.
He said Customs enforcement was intended to protect legitimate trade while preventing imports that could undermine domestic industries.
According to him, unrestricted importation of products that can be produced or processed locally could weaken demand for Nigerian goods and expose farmers and manufacturers to increased competition.
He added that such imports could also affect investment, employment and domestic production, particularly in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
The Customs chief maintained that enforcement activities were not intended to frustrate legitimate businesses, saying the service’s risk-based system allows compliant cargo to move while consignments considered high-risk receive greater scrutiny.
Adeniyi commended the Customs Area Controller, Aliyu Alkali, and personnel of the Port Harcourt II Area Command for the interceptions.
He also advised importers to confirm whether goods are permitted into Nigeria before commencing transactions and to ensure that declarations covering the description, quantity, value, origin and classification of imported products are accurate.
