From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has intensified efforts to clamp down on smuggling in Kwara State, leveraging advanced technology to monitor and secure border areas.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, reaffirmed this commitment during his visit to the NCS Area Command in Ilorin, warning that illegal trade poses a serious threat to the nation’s economy.
“We cannot allow smugglers to sabotage the economy. All land borders will be effectively manned to ensure compliance with trade regulations,” Adeniyi declared.
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Recent operations by the agency led to the interception of 53,000 liters of petrol, valued at ₦53 million, in the Kwara North axis.
A suspect, Nafiu Salami, was apprehended while attempting to smuggle 162 jerry cans of petroleum out of the country.
Adeniyi attributed the surge in fuel smuggling to price disparities between Nigeria and neighboring countries such as Benin Republic and Cameroon.
He vowed to intensify enforcement, warning that those caught would face severe consequences.
“We will not tolerate this economic sabotage. Anyone found guilty will be dealt with according to the law,” he stressed.
Comptroller of the NCS Kwara Area Command, Faith Ojeifo, also underscored the agency’s determination to combat smuggling, urging border communities to support Customs by providing intelligence.
“Smuggling is a threat to national development. We need the cooperation of the people to succeed in this fight,” Ojeifo said.
The NCS assured residents that its crackdown on smuggling would not relent, emphasising that protecting Nigeria’s economy requires collective effort.
