Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have intercepted 20 diverted transit containers with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦769.5 million across the Kano–Jigawa axis.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed this during a press conference on Friday in Kano. He said the seizures were the result of intelligence-driven enforcement operations carried out in the second and fourth quarters of the year, aimed at dismantling organised cargo diversion networks along major transit corridors.
Adeniyi described cargo diversion as a serious economic crime with wide-ranging consequences for government revenue, national security, and Nigeria’s reputation in international trade.
“Cargo diversion is a grave offence that undermines government revenue, compromises national security, and damages Nigeria’s standing in global commerce. The Nigeria Customs Service will not hesitate to deploy all lawful measures to detect, deter, and punish offenders,” he said.
The seized containers were found to contain various items, including vitrified tiles unlawfully diverted from the Kano Free Trade Zone valued at ₦228.6 million, as well as diesel engine oil, polyester materials, used clothing, printed and lace fabrics, medical consumables, and Zamzam bottled water. Customs noted that some of the items fall under prohibited imports in line with Common External Tariff (CET) regulations.
The CGC revealed that one container remains under detention pending the conclusion of legal proceedings, while two containers containing medical consumables were forfeited to the Federal Government following a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Kano Division, on December 10, 2025.
He also confirmed the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of Abdulrahman Sani Adam for container diversion. The convict was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with an option of a ₦3 million fine, which Adeniyi described as a strong deterrent to economic saboteurs.
To strengthen transit cargo control nationwide, the CGC announced the near-complete deployment of electronic container tracking devices, which enable real-time monitoring, ensure route compliance, and trigger alerts in cases of tampering from ports to inland destinations.
Reaffirming the NCS’s commitment to revenue protection, trade facilitation, and border security, Adeniyi warned that smugglers and their collaborators would face prosecution, forfeiture of goods, and loss of trading privileges. He urged importers, clearing agents, and logistics operators to strictly adhere to approved transit procedures and report suspicious activities to the nearest Customs office.
