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Nigeria Customs Service intercepted 56 containers of prohibited goods with a combined duty-paid value of N5.53bn at the Port Harcourt II Area Command.
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The seizures included 45 containers of foreign vegetable oil, nine containers of used clothing and two containers of Channy tomato paste.
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Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the enforcement was aimed at protecting local farmers, manufacturers and businesses from unfair import competition.
September 17, (THEWILL) – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt II Area Command, has intercepted 56 containers carrying prohibited goods with a total duty-paid value of N5.53bn.
Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Customs, disclosed this while showcasing the seized consignments to journalists at the command in Onne, Rivers State, on Tuesday.
According to him, the seizures formed part of intelligence-driven and risk-based operations designed to prevent prohibited, restricted and improperly declared consignments from entering the Nigerian market.
The intercepted consignments comprised 45 20-foot containers of foreign vegetable oil, nine 40-foot containers of used clothing and two 20-foot containers of Channy tomato paste.
Adeniyi said the seizures aligned with the Federal Government’s broader economic objectives of promoting locally produced goods and protecting domestic value chains.
Protecting local production
The Customs chief said unchecked importation of goods that could be produced or processed locally places additional pressure on Nigerian farmers, manufacturers and other domestic producers.
He said large-scale imports could expose local businesses to unfair competition, weaken demand for locally produced goods and discourage investment in domestic production.
“The economic impact is especially significant in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors,” Adeniyi said, adding that excessive imports of products Nigeria can produce or process could undermine efforts to strengthen food security, create jobs and diversify the economy.
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He stressed that Customs enforcement was not intended to frustrate legitimate businesses but to maintain a fair and predictable trading environment for compliant operators.
“The service’s risk-based approach enabled it to facilitate legitimate cargo while directing enhanced scrutiny towards consignments considered high-risk,” he said.
Customs urges accurate declarations
Adeniyi commended Aliyu Alkali, Customs Area Controller of the Port Harcourt II Area Command, and officers of the command for the interceptions.
He urged importers and other stakeholders to verify the admissibility of their intended consignments before commencing transactions.
He also advised importers to make accurate declarations covering the description, quantity, value, origin, and classification of their goods.
The Comptroller-General said compliance with import regulations would help businesses avoid enforcement actions while supporting legitimate trade and the protection of domestic production.
Ogochukwu Onwaeze is a writer specializing in business and economic journalism. At THEWILL News Media, she translates market trends, financial developments, and policy shifts into clear and engaging stories.
