Authorities confiscate 88 shipments of vegetable oil valued at N1.314 billion.

The Nigeria Customs Service has revealed that it made 88 seizures of smuggled vegetable oil products, valued at N1.314 billion in Duty Paid Value, between 2025 and 2026, while announcing plans to bolster intelligence-driven operations to combat illicit imports and safeguard local investments.

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Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi disclosed this information during a meeting with stakeholders from the vegetable oil industry at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

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Adeniyi emphasized the Service's commitment to fighting smuggling through strategic enforcement, intelligence gathering, and collaboration with industry stakeholders, highlighting that Customs and sector operators share the common goal of protecting legitimate businesses and supporting economic growth.

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

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Adeniyi urged stakeholders to support the Service's enforcement efforts by providing credible intelligence on smuggling routes and illicit trade activities, underscoring the importance of collaboration in this endeavor.

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According to Adeniyi, combating smuggling is an ongoing process that demands intelligence, policy support, and collaboration, and the Service values constructive engagement with stakeholders and will continue to strengthen its partnership with the private sector.

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Deputy Comptroller-General Timi Bomodi, in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, stated that the Service has intensified its efforts against the illegal importation of vegetable oil products.

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Bomodi disclosed that in 2025, Customs recorded 65 seizures of vegetable oil products, and in 2026, an additional 23 seizures were made, resulting in a total of 88 interceptions with a combined DPV of approximately N1.314 billion.

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Most of the seizures, Bomodi noted, occurred along major smuggling corridors, including the Seme Border and Idiroko Border, and the Service plans to strengthen surveillance in other vulnerable locations it has identified.

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Bomodi stated that the Service 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.