Ogun I Customs Records 238% Revenue Surge, Seizes ₦4.6bn Contraband

Ogun I Customs Records 238% Revenue Surge, Seizes ₦4.6bn Contraband
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Ogun I Customs Records 238% Revenue Surge, Seizes ₦4.6bn Contraband

By Tunde Ojudun

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a remarkable 238% increase in revenue generation, alongside the interception of contraband goods valued at ₦4.63 billion Duty Paid Value (DPV) during the second quarter of 2026.

At a press briefing in Idiroko, Ogun State, on Wednesday, June 24, Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, revealed that the Command generated ₦259.28 million from baggage assessments, auction sales of perishable items, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) charges, and other sources. This figure represents a sharp rise from ₦76.81 million recorded in the same period of 2025.

Afeni attributed the revenue growth to stricter enforcement of import/export regulations and improved compliance by importers and agents.

Between April and June, the Command recorded 146 seizures worth ₦4.63 billion. Items confiscated include 2,807 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 9,482 parcels of cannabis sativa & 62 sacks of raw marijuana, 16,525 litres of PMS and 475 litres of diesel. Other seizures are 7,642 pairs of footwear, 2,427 smuggled pneumatic tyres, 73 bales of second-hand clothing, 100 sachets of Tramadol (225mg tablets), and frozen products, sugar, flour, fertiliser, and one used vehicle.

The Controller disclosed that on June 3, 2026, a truck carrying 2,427 smuggled tyres was intercepted along the Ijebu-Ode axis. On June 14 again a truck loaded with 630 bags of rice was seized at Afamin-Igbogila. On June 16, the Command also intercepted a truck concealing 113 bags of rice beneath cement bags along Itori-Wasimi-Abeokuta.

Afeni stressed that these operations underscore the Command’s commitment to protecting local industries and shielding the economy from the dangers of smuggling.

The Command processed 20,972 metric tonnes of exports valued at ₦1.049 billion Free-On-Board (FOB) during the review period. Exported commodities included white talc, crushed thermal coal, and compressed natural gas (CNG). This marks a significant improvement compared to Q2 2025, when no export transactions were recorded.

As part of inter-Agency collaboration 6,981 parcels of Cannabis Indica (“Ghanaian Loud”) and 62 sacks of raw marijuana were handed over to NDLEA for investigation while 77 cartons of Analgin injections (138,600 tubes) and 1,000 Tramadol tablets were handed over to NAFDAC for custody.

Afeni praised Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for his leadership and extended tenure, while commending officers, sister agencies, and border communities for their support in combating smuggling and trans-border crimes.

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Customs Unveils 3,852 Successful Recruits, Adopts Annual Employment Exercise The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the release of the final list of 3,852 successful candidates for its 2024/2025 recruitment exercise and unveiled plans to institutionalise annual recruitment to ensure continuous manpower renewal. Speaking at a press briefing, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the successful applicants were selected across three entry cadres, with 1,275 recruited into the Superintendent Cadre, 367 into the Inspectorate Cadre, and 2,210 into the Customs Assistant Cadre. Adeniyi said the publication of the final list marks the successful conclusion of the recruitment exercise, which commenced in December 2024. He apologised for the delay in completing the exercise, attributing it to the unprecedented number of applications received and the Service’s determination to conduct a transparent, credible and merit-driven recruitment process. According to the Customs boss, the Service received 573,680 applications for just 3,852 available positions, making the exercise one of the most competitive in the agency’s history. He explained that all applications underwent rigorous screening procedures, including computer-based examinations, verification of credentials against the National Identity database, and additional checks where inconsistencies were detected. He noted that candidates who made the final list would still undergo physical and medical examinations before receiving final approval from the Nigeria Customs Service Board. Adeniyi disclosed that the overall success rate was 0.67 per cent, meaning only one out of every 148 applicants secured a place in the exercise. Breaking down the figures, he said the Superintendent Cadre attracted 276,995 applications for 1,275 vacancies, representing one successful applicant out of every 217 candidates. The Inspectorate Cadre recorded 128,604 applications for 367 positions, making it the most competitive category with one successful candidate for every 350 applicants, while the Customs Assistant Cadre received 168,081 applications for 2,210 vacancies, translating to one successful applicant for every 76 candidates. He encouraged unsuccessful applicants not to be discouraged, stressing that many met the required qualifications but could not be accommodated because of the limited vacancies and intense competition. The Comptroller-General said the recruitment reflected the Federal Character principle, with all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory represented. Each state was allocated 105 slots, comprising 35 positions in the Superintendent Cadre, 10 in the Inspectorate Cadre and 60 in the Customs Assistant Cadre, while the FCT received 72 slots under the approved allocation formula. On gender representation, Adeniyi revealed that women accounted for 839 successful candidates, representing 21.8 per cent of the total intake, slightly higher than their 21.2 per cent share of the total applications received. He added that female applicants recorded a marginally higher success rate than their male counterparts, particularly in the Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres, reaffirming the Service’s commitment to encouraging greater female participation in future recruitment, especially in operational and enforcement roles. According to him, the exercise also produced a youthful workforce, with a median age of 26 years and nearly three-quarters of the successful candidates below the age of 30. He said the youthful intake would strengthen the Service’s capacity to embrace modern customs administration driven by technology, data analytics and automated risk management. Adeniyi further announced that the Nigeria Customs Service would now conduct recruitment exercises annually instead of waiting several years between recruitment cycles. He disclosed that the 2026 recruitment exercise would commence later this year, expressing confidence that future recruitment would be completed within a single calendar year, from advertisement to the publication of the final list. According to him, the digital systems, screening architecture and verification processes developed during the current exercise would significantly shorten future recruitment timelines. He explained that the annual recruitment policy would enable the Service to plan its workforce more effectively, promptly replace retiring personnel and provide qualified Nigerians with predictable employment opportunities. The Comptroller-General advised successful candidates to rely only on official Nigeria Customs Service communication channels for further instructions, reiterating that recruitment into the Service remains completely free. He urged members of the public to report anyone demanding money in exchange for employment, describing such individuals as fraudsters. Congratulating the successful candidates, Adeniyi reminded them that they earned their positions through a rigorous and highly competitive process and urged them to uphold the professionalism, discipline and integrity expected of officers of the Nigeria Customs Service. He also assured unsuccessful applicants that another opportunity would be available later this year under the newly introduced annual recruitment programme.

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