The Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Area Command, generated over ₦3.89 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2026 and recorded seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) exceeding ₦204.7 million between March and May 2026.
The Acting Customs Area Controller, Najeem Ogundeyi, disclosed this during a press briefing.
According to him, despite the closure of Nigeria’s border with the Republic of Benin since August 2019, the Command has continued to generate revenue mainly through excise factories and intensified anti-smuggling operations.
Ogundeyi revealed that the Command generated a total of ₦3,895,333,182.94 within the first quarter of the year.
Speaking on anti-smuggling activities, he said officers of the Command carried out several interceptions across major smuggling routes in Kwara State and neighbouring areas, including Bukuro axis, Gurumi and Sikira axis, Okuta axis, Boriya axis, Tewu and Bero axis, Sango and Okeoyi road, Alapa axis, Malete and Bani axis, Offa and Idofian road, Lagos-Ilorin Expressway, and Eiyenkorin axis.
He explained that the identified routes remain under close surveillance due to their frequent use by smugglers involved in illegal trade and the transportation of prohibited goods.
Items seized during the period include 155 bags of foreign parboiled rice valued at ₦52.4 million, 70 pieces of second-hand tyres worth ₦1.4 million, and 418 jerrycans of vegetable oil with a DPV of ₦27.1 million.
The Command also intercepted 3,697 packages of macaroni pasta valued at ₦110.9 million, 237 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit containing 5,925 litres valued at ₦2.37 million, and 49.5 kilogrammes of cannabis worth ₦4 million.
Other seized items included 376 kilogrammes of tramadol valued at ₦564,000, 19 jerrycans of corrosive oxidiser chemicals worth ₦792,439, and 18 bales of second-hand clothing valued at ₦5.1 million.
Ogundeyi stated that the Command recorded nine seizures within the period under review with a combined Duty Paid Value of ₦204,763,439.
“We will continue to secure our borders and ensure that those involved in illegal activities are brought to justice while legitimate trade thrives,” he said.
The Acting Customs Area Controller commended officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) and Customs Police Unit (CPU) for improvements in intelligence gathering, operations and discipline within the Command.
He also praised the collaboration between the Command and other security agencies, describing the partnership as instrumental to the successes recorded.
Ogundeyi attributed the achievements to the leadership and support of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the management team of the Service for providing the necessary operational support to the Command.