Why we seized vehicles valued N5.64bn – Customs

By Paul Dada

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi says the service seized 397 vehicles valued at N5.64bn in 2024, because it continued to enforce import regulations and protect government revenue.

Adeniyi said  this in Abuja on Tuesday during a press briefing  to highlight the activities of the  service  for 2024.

He said, “The service recorded significant seizures of other restricted items, including 3,785 bales of textiles valued at N945m, 183,527 bags of rice, various quantities of footwear, beverages, and other consumer goods, protecting local industries and supporting the government’s economic diversification agenda.”

“The service also recorded 397 seizures of vehicles valued at N5.64bn, as we continue to enforce import regulations and protect government revenue.”

The Customs boss also said it seized 1,716,656 litres of petroleum products from saboteurs diverting the products to neighbouring countries  with the support of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

He said, “Most significantly, our enforcement activities have yielded 55 arrests of suspects currently under investigation as we continue to dismantle the criminal networks behind these activities.”

Adeniyi said the service’s embrace of technology upgrade had boosted its enforcement operations.

“These technological advancements, coupled with capacity building and enhanced intelligence-gathering mechanisms, will significantly boost our surveillance and enforcement operations. The integration of these modern tools with our existing frameworks is a strategic investment in the future of Customs enforcement to ensure that we stay ahead of emerging threats as we continue to facilitate legitimate trade,” he said.