Customs Intercept N1.3bn Worth Of Smuggled Vegetable Oil In 12 Months

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disclosed that it intercepted smuggled vegetable oil products valued at N1.314 billion over the past 12 months, as it intensified efforts to curb illicit imports and protect local investments in the sector.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this known on Friday during a meeting with stakeholders in the vegetable oil industry at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

Adeniyi said the Service is strengthening its anti-smuggling campaign through intelligence-driven operations, strategic enforcement measures and collaboration with industry players to safeguard legitimate businesses and support economic growth.

According to him, Customs and operators in the vegetable oil industry share a common goal of protecting investments, preserving jobs and promoting sustainable development across the agricultural value chain.

He stressed that tackling smuggling requires continuous cooperation between government agencies and the private sector, especially in sectors that contribute significantly to employment and national economic development.

The Customs boss also urged stakeholders to support enforcement efforts by providing credible intelligence on smuggling routes and illegal 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,” Adeniyi said.

Providing details of the seizures, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, Timi Bomodi, revealed that Customs recorded 65 seizures of vegetable oil products in 2025 and an additional 23 seizures in 2026.

He said the seizures, made across major smuggling corridors, had a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of approximately N1.314 billion.

“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,” Bomodi stated.

He noted that many of the interceptions occurred along key border routes, including Seme and Idiroko, adding that surveillance and enforcement activities would be intensified in other vulnerable locations identified by the Service.

Bomodi further disclosed that Customs is preparing to launch special intelligence-led operations targeting vegetable oil smuggling networks across the country.

Speaking on behalf of industry operators, Founder of the Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria, Dr. Fatai Afolabi, commended the Service for engaging stakeholders and pledged support for efforts aimed at curbing smuggling.

He warned that the continued influx of smuggled vegetable oil poses a serious threat to local production, discourages investment and endangers thousands of jobs across the value chain.

“Smuggling of vegetable oil undermines local production, discourages investment and threatens thousands of jobs across the value chain,” Afolabi said.

The meeting underscored the growing collaboration between Customs and industry stakeholders as part of broader efforts to strengthen border controls, promote local production and protect Nigeria’s economy from the adverse effects of smuggling.