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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Customs seize N1.3bn smuggled vegetable oil products

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Nigeria Customs Service seized smuggled vegetable oil products valued at approximately N1.314 billion in 2025 and 2026.
  • The service is intensifying efforts to combat smuggling through intelligence-driven operations to protect local investments and jobs.
  • Customs officials and industry stakeholders are collaborating to strengthen enforcement and protect the agricultural value chain.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported significant success in combating the smuggling of vegetable oil, announcing the seizure of products valued at approximately N1.314 billion over 2025 and 2026. These seizures, totaling 65 in 2025 and 23 in 2026, underscore the ongoing challenge of illegal importation into the country.

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.

— Adewale AdeniyiThe Comptroller-General of Customs highlighted the need for ongoing cooperation to combat smuggling.

Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated that the service is escalating its efforts to tackle smuggling. This includes launching intelligence-driven special operations designed to safeguard local investments, preserve employment opportunities, and support the growth of Nigeria's agricultural sector. Adeniyi emphasized the shared objective between the NCS and the vegetable oil industry operators: protecting legitimate businesses, fostering investment, and bolstering the national economy.

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 N1.314bn.

— Timi BomodiThe Deputy Comptroller-General detailed the volume and value of seized smuggled vegetable oil.

Speaking at a stakeholder meeting in Abuja, Adeniyi stressed that combating smuggling requires sustained cooperation between government agencies and the private sector. He urged industry stakeholders to provide credible intelligence on smuggling routes and illicit trade activities. Deputy Comptroller-General Timi Bomodi highlighted that many seizures occurred along major smuggling corridors like Seme and Idiroko, with plans to intensify surveillance in other vulnerable areas. Dr. Fatai Afolabi, Founder of the Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria, commended the NCS and warned that unchecked smuggling undermines local production, discourages investment, and threatens thousands of jobs within the value chain.

Smuggling of vegetable oil will undermine local production, discouraging investment and threatening thousands of jobs across the value chain.

— Dr. Fatai AfolabiThe Founder of the Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria explained the negative impact of smuggling on the local industry.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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