Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Henry Owen
The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy against the importation of substandard, expired and falsely declared goods following the interception of multiple offending consignments at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal in Lagos, underscoring renewed enforcement efforts to safeguard public health and protect national revenue.
The commitment was restated on Friday, January 23, 2026, during a media briefing at the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Area Command, where the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Bolaji Adigun, detailed recent seizures and the command’s revenue performance. Speaking to journalists, Adigun said the interceptions reflected the service’s determination to facilitate legitimate trade while strictly enforcing customs laws against abuse of import processes.
According to the acting controller, one of the major seizures involved a twenty-foot container intercepted during routine cargo examination. The consignment was found to contain hundreds of bags of expired raw material identified as triple pressed stearic acid imported from Indonesia. The product, which is commonly used in industrial manufacturing, was declared non-compliant with import regulations after officers discovered that it had exceeded its shelf life. Customs assessed the duty paid value of the seized consignment at over thirty-six million naira.
Adigun explained that the interception was made possible through intelligence-driven checks and strict examination procedures that have been intensified at the port. He noted that expired industrial inputs pose serious risks when diverted into local manufacturing chains, as they can compromise the quality and safety of consumer goods. He stressed that the service would not allow Nigeria to become a dumping ground for expired or substandard materials rejected elsewhere.
In a related enforcement action, officers of the command also intercepted a forty-foot container at Joliz Terminal after discrepancies were detected in its declaration. The container had been declared as zipped luggage, but upon physical examination was found to contain empty suitcases. Customs authorities assessed the duty paid value of the falsely declared goods at just over five million naira. Adigun said the seizure reinforced the service’s zero-tolerance stance against false declaration, smuggling and other trade infractions that undermine the integrity of the port system.
He warned importers and clearing agents that the command would continue to apply strict sanctions against any attempt to circumvent customs procedures, adding that accurate declaration remains a fundamental obligation under Nigerian customs law. According to him, false declarations not only deprive the government of revenue but also distort trade statistics and create unfair competition for compliant businesses.
Beyond enforcement, the acting area controller used the briefing to highlight the command’s revenue performance, describing 2025 as a landmark year for the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal. He disclosed that the command generated more than one hundred and forty-seven billion naira in revenue during the year, significantly exceeding its approved target of just over one hundred and nine billion naira. The figure, he added, also represented a marked increase over the revenue recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.
Adigun attributed the improved revenue performance to enhanced operational efficiency, improved compliance by stakeholders and sustained collaboration with sister agencies operating at the port. He said the command had adopted a balanced approach that prioritises trade facilitation for compliant operators while decisively blocking leakages and infractions that erode government earnings.
He assured stakeholders and the general public that the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Area Command would sustain its vigilance throughout the year, with particular focus on combating illegal importation, preventing revenue losses and supporting national health and security objectives. According to him, customs officers have been directed to remain professional and firm in the discharge of their duties, while leveraging technology and intelligence to stay ahead of evolving smuggling tactics.
As part of inter-agency collaboration, the seized expired raw materials were formally handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for further investigation and disposal. The handover, customs officials said, reflected established protocols for dealing with regulated products that fall within the statutory mandate of NAFDAC.
Receiving the consignment on behalf of the agency, the Chief Regulatory Officer of NAFDAC, Oluwaseun Ogunjimi, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for what he described as sustained collaboration and synergy. He said the partnership between customs and NAFDAC had played a crucial role in preventing expired, falsified and substandard products from entering Nigerian markets, thereby protecting consumers and manufacturers alike.
Ogunjimi assured that the seized materials would be subjected to the necessary investigative processes before being completely destroyed in line with regulatory guidelines. He emphasised that expired industrial inputs pose risks not only to public health but also to the credibility of local industries, noting that strict enforcement remains essential to maintaining standards across the supply chain.
Observers say the latest seizures highlight persistent challenges at Nigerian ports, where attempts to smuggle or falsely declare goods remain common despite ongoing reforms. However, they also point to growing capacity within the customs service to detect and intercept such consignments through improved examination procedures and inter-agency cooperation.
For the Nigeria Customs Service, the Kirikiri interceptions are being presented as evidence of a broader institutional resolve to enforce compliance without compromising legitimate trade. As port activities continue to expand with rising import volumes, customs authorities insist that robust enforcement remains indispensable to safeguarding public interest and ensuring that Nigeria’s ports operate in line with international best practices.
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