The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, recorded a 266 percent increase in export value in March 2026, reflecting improved trade facilitation and intensified anti-smuggling operations along the Idiroko border corridor.
In an official statement by the Command Public Relations Officer Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Chado Zakari on behalf of the Acting Customs Area, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Olukayode Afeni, stated that data released by the Command shows that export volume rose to 277.8 metric tonnes with a Free on Board (FOB) value of $383,100 in March 2026, compared with 20 metric tonnes valued at $104,600 in the corresponding period of 2025.
The Command attributed the growth to enhanced operational efficiency, stricter border surveillance, and intelligence-driven enforcement strategies that have reduced illegal trade while encouraging legitimate export activities.
Speaking on the development, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Afeni, said the Command’s dual focus on trade facilitation and enforcement has helped create a more conducive environment for exporters.
He noted that sustained anti-smuggling operations have strengthened the integrity of the export system and boosted confidence among legitimate traders operating within the corridor.
As part of these enforcement efforts, the Command intercepted 1,202 kegs of smuggled vegetable oil, valued at ₦120.2 million, during two operations conducted in March 2026. The seizures followed earlier interceptions of 2,539 kegs in March and 2,090 kegs in December 2025.
Afeni explained that removing such illicit goods from circulation helps protect local industries from unfair competition while supporting job creation within the domestic economy.
In another development, the Command handed over 285 sacks of mica stones valued at ₦104.7 million to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development after intercepting the minerals during an anti-smuggling operation.
The Acting Customs Area Controller warned that the illegal export of solid minerals continues to pose a threat to national revenue and economic stability, emphasising the importance of sustained inter-agency collaboration to tackle the problem.
The Command statement reaffirmed command commitment to sustaining the current momentum in export growth while maintaining a firm stance against smuggling activities across all border points.
