Customs seizes N5.5bn goods, suspends Tinapa FTZ transfers, clamps down on free trade zone violations

The Customs Service has seized contraband worth over N5.5bn in 56 containers. The Customs also slammed actions on the Tinapa Free Trade Zone transfers, while also clamping down on violations.

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), explained that the Service will no longer approve the transfer of containers to the Tinapa Free Trade Zone pending a comprehensive audit.

Adeniyi made this known while addressing stakeholders at the Area 2 Command in Onne, Rivers State, describing the suspension as part of a broader crackdown on alleged abuse of free‑trade‑zone concessions and warned of prosecutions against importers, agents and shipping companies.

Adeniyi frowned at the practice of some importers allegedly abusing waivers and concessions granted by the federal government to permit certain goods on the import prohibition list to enter designated free trade zones for manufacturing and other legitimate economic activities.

He said some importers had allegedly exploited the concessions by bringing prohibited goods into the country through the zones and subsequently pushing them into the local market rather than using them for approved manufacturing activities.

The Comptroller General said the Customs Service would conduct a comprehensive audit of containers whose customs processes were suspended and which had been transferred from the ports to the Tinapa Free Trade Zone.

“We will be requesting them to produce the customs documents, and we’ll be asking them to produce the process that consumed the containers of vegetable oil and the final products thereof.

“And while this process is ongoing, appropriate directive has been given that until all the containers that were transferred are properly accounted for, we will not allow any future transfer of containers into the Free Trade Zone,” he said.

Adeniyi, while giving a breakdown of the seized consignments, said the Customs Service intercepted 56 containers imported through the Onne Port containing used clothing, tomato paste and vegetable oil.

He said 45 of the 56 containers contained 1,050 jerrycans of 25‑litre vegetable oil each. He put the duty‑paid value of the vegetable oil at N4.252bn.

The Comptroller General noted that nine other containers containing used clothing had a duty‑paid value of over N1bn, while two containers containing tomato paste were valued at N232 million. The combined duty‑paid value of the seized consignments is about N5.53 billion.

He said the goods were seized for allegedly violating Sections 55 and 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.

Adeniyi added that court processes would be initiated for the condemnation and final forfeiture of the seized goods. The Customs CG warned that all parties involved in the alleged illegal importation would face prosecution.

He said this includes the importers, Customs agents, shipping companies and other parties connected with the consignments.

Adeniyi further noted that the seizure was aimed at protecting Nigeria’s economic interests, public health and domestic production while ensuring compliance with the country’s import laws and regulations.

“What we have done in the interception of these containers is aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests, protecting public health, supporting domestic production, and ensuring compliance with the country’s import laws and regulations,” he said.

In a related development, the Customs Comptroller General inaugurated a model health centre in Ebubu, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. The facility was rebuilt and equipped with modern medical facilities by the Customs Area 2 Command, Onne.

Adeniyi said the project was part of the Nigeria Customs Service’s corporate social responsibility programme. He commended Aliyu Mohammed Alkali, Controller, Area 2 Command, for facilitating the intervention.

Many stakeholders regarded the seizure as a big hit on illicit importers. Adeniyi disclosed that the interceptions were made through renewed intelligence-driven and risk assessment-based enforcement operations aimed at preventing prohibited, restricted and improperly declared consignments from entering Nigeria through the country’s seaports.