By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 56 containers containing prohibited and improperly declared goods with a combined duty-paid value of N5.53 billion at the Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne, Rivers State.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, while briefing journalists and inspecting the seized consignments at the command.
The seized goods comprised 45 20-foot containers of foreign vegetable oil, nine 40-foot containers of used clothing and two 20-foot containers containing foreign tomato paste.
Adeniyi said the 45 containers of vegetable oil were valued at N4.2525 billion in duty-paid terms. He explained that the containers had been declared as machinery and spare parts, but physical examination showed that they contained vegetable oil.
According to him, the declaration raised concerns about the use of the free trade zone arrangement to bring goods into the country under concessions meant primarily to support manufacturing, investment and export activities.
The Customs boss said the nine 40-foot containers of used clothing had a duty-paid value of N1.045 billion, while the two containers of foreign tomato paste were valued at N232 million.
He said the interceptions were based on intelligence and risk assessment of consignments coming through the port and operators within the economic zone.
Adeniyi explained that free trade zones were established to encourage investment and industrial development by allowing approved businesses to import machinery, equipment and raw materials under specified concessions.
He, however, said such privileges should not be used as a means of bringing restricted goods into the Nigerian market or avoiding applicable customs duties.
The Comptroller-General said the enforcement action was also aimed at protecting Nigerian farmers and manufacturers whose businesses could be affected by the uncontrolled importation of competing products.
He noted that the continued importation of products that could be produced or processed locally could affect investment in domestic production and weaken the market for Nigerian-made goods.
Adeniyi said the Customs Service would continue to support legitimate businesses while taking action against importers who violate the conditions attached to trade and customs concessions.
He urged importers to ensure that their declarations accurately reflect the contents of their consignments and to establish the admissibility of goods before shipment.
The Comptroller-General also commended the officers of the Port Harcourt Area II Command for the seizures, stressing the importance of intelligence-led operations in preventing the abuse of Nigeria’s ports and economic zones.
The seized consignments are expected to undergo further investigation, after which appropriate action will be taken in line with the law.
