The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has declared a fresh crackdown on the illicit importation of vegetable oil, unveiling plans to launch intelligence-led special operations aimed at shielding domestic agricultural investments and salvaging thousands of local jobs. Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made this known during an operational strategy high-level meeting with major players in the vegetable oil industry at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja yesterday.
Strategic Meeting with Industry Stakeholders
Adeniyi stated that the service is recalibrating its border enforcement architecture to decisively dismantle smuggling syndicates, emphasizing that state revenue protection and the survival of local agribusinesses are inextricably linked. He pointed out that containing cross-border economic sabotage requires active intelligence sharing between regulatory agencies and the private sector, particularly within the manufacturing and agricultural value chains.
“Fighting smuggling is a continuous process that requires intelligence, policy support, and collaboration,” Adeniyi said. “We value constructive engagement with stakeholders and will continue to strengthen our partnership with the private sector.”
Operational Milestones and Seizures
Reviewing recent operational milestones, Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection, and Investigation, Timi Bomodi, disclosed that heightened surveillance along key international trade corridors has already yielded massive seizures. Bomodi revealed that customs field operatives intercepted significant consignments of illegal vegetable oil along the Seme and Idiroko border frontiers, dealing a major blow to the financial infrastructure of smugglers.
“We recorded about 65 seizures of vegetable oil products in 2025 and another 23 seizures in 2026, with a combined Duty Paid Value of approximately N1.314 billion,” Bomodi stated. He added that maritime and land surveillance would be intensified across all vulnerable coastal locations.
Industry Concerns and Call for Sustained Action
Founder of the Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria, Dr. Fatai Afolabi, commended the customs management for prioritizing stakeholder dialogue but warned that the domestic market remains fragile due to unfair foreign competition. According to him, “Smuggling of vegetable oil undermines local production, discourages investment, and threatens thousands of jobs across the value chain.” Dr. Afolabi urged the service to sustain its aggressive border sweeps to prevent the collapse of local oil palm plantations.
The NCS reiterated its commitment to protecting the nation's economy and ensuring that local industries thrive without the threat of illegal imports. The service called for continued collaboration with all stakeholders to achieve lasting results in the fight against smuggling.
