The Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Area Command, has announced that it generated ₦3.8 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2026 despite ongoing border restrictions with the Republic of Benin.
Despite the ongoing blockage of Nigeria’s border with the Republic of Benin, the Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Area Command, made over N3.8 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2026.
This was revealed on Thursday at the command’s third press conference in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, by Acting Area Controller Deputy Comptroller Najeem Ogundeyi.
According to Ogundeyi, the command generated N3,895,333,182.94 in total revenue between January and March 2026, primarily from increased anti-smuggling efforts and excise taxes.
He claims that the command has also made significant progress in stopping smuggling operations in a number of hotspots in Kwara and the surrounding environs.
Bukuro, Gurumi, Sikira, Okuta, Boriya, Tewu, Bero, Sango, Okeoyi, Alapa, Malete, Bani, Offa, Idofian, Eiyenkorin, and the Lagos-Ilorin Expressway were among the roads he mentioned as being impacted.
“Due to their strategic use by smugglers attempting illegal trade and smuggling of uncustomed goods both in and out of the country, these areas have remained under close watch,” he stated.
During the operations, 155 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 70 pieces of used tires, 418 jerry cans of vegetable oil, and 3,697 cartons of macaroni pasta were intercepted by command personnel, according to the acting controller.
5,925 liters of Premium Motor Spirit, 49.5 kilograms of cannabis, 376 kilograms of tramadol, corrosive oxidizer chemicals, and 18 bales of used clothing were among the other goods confiscated.
He stated that N204,763,439 was the total Duty Paid Value of the seized goods.
Ogundeyi emphasized the importance of the seizures, saying that the operations demonstrated the service’s resolve to safeguard the country’s economy and stop illicit activity.
“These accomplishments highlight the Nigeria Customs Service’s dedication to preventing illicit trade and the smuggling of uncustomized goods, protecting national revenue and ensuring that only legitimate trade thrives,” he stated.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, was praised by the acting area controller for his visionary leadership and support of the command’s accomplishments.
Additionally, he commended sister security agencies for their collaboration, stating that it had made a substantial contribution to the command’s operational successes.
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(Some of the recovered items. Photo credit: punch news)
Ogundeyi also noted that the reassignment of new officers to the Customs Intelligence Unit and Customs Police Unit had boosted intelligence-driven operations and staff discipline.
In order to deter smugglers and economic saboteurs, he reassured the locals that the command would keep stepping up surveillance and enforcement efforts.
“To secure our borders and safeguard the country’s economy, we remain committed to implementing proactive and intelligence-driven strategies,” he declared.
Residents of border towns were urged by the head of Customs to assist the agency by providing timely, reliable information that might boost anti-smuggling efforts.
He issued a warning that those engaged in illicit commerce would still be subject to the full force of the law.
“Under my leadership, the Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Command, will continue to be dedicated to making sure that those involved in illicit activities are prosecuted and that our national economic interests are protected at all times,” he continued.