The Nigeria Customs Service is stepping up its fight against smuggling and illegal imports. They have seized prohibited goods worth over N273.7 million in Cross River State.
This action aims to support local manufacturers, save jobs, and help the Federal Government’s plan for industrial growth.
The recent seizure includes nearly 2,000 kegs of foreign refined vegetable oil, used tyres, second-hand clothing, and smuggled petrol. This comes as worries grow about how illegal imports affect local businesses and investments.
A statement from the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Giwa Dauda, on Wednesday said this operation is part of efforts to protect local manufacturers from the negative effects of smuggling and illegal imports.
Dauda revealed that Customs officers stopped two 20-foot containers loaded with 1,996 kegs of banned foreign refined vegetable oil on June 14, 2026, along the Odukpani-Calabar Highway.
He said the goods, worth N195.5 million, were found in a truck during a routine patrol operation. He called this seizure significant and mentioned that the vegetable oil sector is vital for Nigerian investors who have put in a lot of money recently.
The statement said, "The Nigeria Customs Service has reinforced its commitment to protecting Nigerian manufacturers and preserving jobs by intercepting prohibited imported goods valued at over N273 million in Cross River State.
The command remains resolute in enforcing Federal Government trade policies aimed at protecting local industries and encouraging domestic production. During one of our routine patrol operations along the Odukpani-Calabar Highway, officers intercepted a truck carrying two 20-foot containers loaded with 1,996 kegs of foreign refined vegetable oil.
The products have a Duty Paid Value of N195.5 million. These goods are prohibited imports under existing government policy, and their illegal entry into the Nigerian market would have serious consequences for local manufacturers and investors who have committed enormous resources to developing the sector."
Dauda added that allowing foreign vegetable oil into Nigeria would hurt efforts to become self-sufficient, weaken local production, and threaten thousands of jobs.
He explained that letting banned foreign products into the country would harm local production, discourage investments, and threaten jobs across agriculture and manufacturing.
He emphasized, "These products are listed under the Federal Government’s import prohibition policy, which seeks to stimulate local production, promote self-sufficiency, and strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base."
Aside from the vegetable oil, the Customs boss said they also stopped 1,500 used tyres and 105 jumbo bales of second-hand clothing.
He noted that the total value of all the prohibited items seized during this operation is N273.7 million.
"The seizures did not stop at vegetable oil alone. Our officers also intercepted 1,500 used tyres and 105 jumbo bales of second-hand clothing, all imported in contravention of existing laws and regulations.
When these seizures are added to other prohibited items intercepted within the period under review, the total Duty Paid Value amounts to N273.7 million. This demonstrates the scale of the illegal activities we continue to confront at our borders and within our operational corridors," Dauda said.
The Area Controller also mentioned that Customs officers seized 800 litres of Premium Motor Spirit during anti-smuggling operations. This brings the total volume of petrol intercepted by the Command this year to 5,760 litres.
He pointed out that the seized fuel was disposed of according to safety guidelines because of its highly flammable nature.
"In addition to the prohibited imports, our officers intercepted 800 litres of Premium Motor Spirit being illegally transported. This brings the total volume of PMS seized by the Command in 2026 to 5,760 litres.
Given the volatile nature of petroleum products and in line with established safety procedures, the seized PMS was disposed of appropriately to eliminate any risk to lives and property," he explained.
The Customs Area Controller warned smugglers and economic saboteurs to stop illegal import activities. He stressed that such actions weaken local industries, distort market competition, and undermine government efforts to diversify the economy through industrialization.
He said smuggling not only robs the government of revenue but also threatens local businesses that provide jobs for Nigerians.
These latest seizures come a few weeks after the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, announced a new nationwide push against illegal vegetable oil imports.
At a meeting with key players in the vegetable oil industry, Adeniyi said the service is adjusting its border enforcement strategies to break down smuggling networks that threaten local agricultural investments.
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