Customs Generates N2.5bn from Excise Duty in Two Months in Kwara

The Nigeria Customs Service says it generated more than N2.5 billion from excise duty operations within two months at the Kwara Area Command.

The Acting Area Controller of the command, Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ilorin.

Ogundeyi said the revenue was realised from excise duty collections carried out across the command during the period under review.

He added that the command also intercepted several smuggled items, including foreign parboiled rice, vehicles, petroleum products and illegally mined lithium.

Seized items 

According to him, the seized items have a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of more than N478 million.

“It is regrettable that some individuals continue to engage in economic sabotage despite our previous warnings,” Ogundeyi said. “However, our officers remain resolute, carrying out intelligence-driven enforcement operations to protect legitimate businesses and safeguard national revenue.”

Among the seizures showcased were 1,107 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 317 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit, 120 sacks of illegally mined lithium ore, 44 bags of imported sugar, second-hand vehicles, used compressors, tyres, and large quantities of second-hand clothing. The Duty Paid Value of the intercepted items totals ₦478,171,315.

Ogundeyi highlighted the government’s policy on import restrictions, particularly the ban on foreign parboiled rice, as a strategy to strengthen local agriculture and create employment. “The illegal importation of foreign rice continues to threaten our farmers and national food security. We must all play our part to support legitimate trade and local production,” he said.

The Acting Controller also commended collaboration with sister security and regulatory agencies, attributing the operational successes to coordinated intelligence gathering and inter-agency synergy. He further acknowledged the support of Customs leadership, saying, “I am grateful to the Controller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, for empowering us to deliver on our mandate of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and national security.”

In the period under review, the Command generated over ₦2.5 billion in revenue from excise activities alone, reflecting its commitment to supporting government fiscal objectives. Ogundeyi urged the public to desist from smuggling, emphasizing that protecting the national economy is a shared responsibility.

“Together, we can safeguard our economy, protect local industries, and promote sustainable development for future generations,” he concluded.