By Sam Ike Abuja

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted and seized 56 containers loaded with vegetable oil, used clothing and tomato paste at Onne Port in Rivers State, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of more than N5.53 billion.
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, disclosed the development during a media briefing in Port Harcourt, stating that the seizures resulted from an intelligence driven review of cargoes destined for Free Trade Zones across the country.
According to him, the containers comprised 45 containers carrying more than 1.1 million litres of vegetable oil, nine containers loaded with assorted second hand clothing and two containers containing tomato paste. He revealed that the consignments were falsely declared as machinery, plants and spare parts in an attempt to evade customs regulations.
Adeniyi explained that investigations uncovered widespread abuse of incentives and waivers granted by the Federal Government to operators within Special Economic Zones and Free Trade Zones. He noted that the concessions were originally designed to encourage local manufacturing, industrial growth and exports, but had increasingly become targets for exploitation by unscrupulous importers.
“We have come to review our operations to ensure that our trade facilitation efforts are not exploited in ways that undermine the local economy. While we remain committed to facilitating legitimate trade and ensuring prompt cargo clearance, we must also protect local manufacturers from unfair competition,” he said.
The Customs boss disclosed that risk based profiling conducted by the Onne Area II Command led to the discovery of 45 containers of vegetable oil branded “Delicious and Poor,” each containing 1,050 jerry cans of 25 litres, amounting to more than 1.1 million litres with a Duty Paid Value of N4.25 billion.
He added that the seized items also included nine 40 foot containers of used clothing valued at N1.045 billion and two 20 foot containers of imported tomato paste valued at N232 million, bringing the total value of the intercepted goods to N5.53 billion.
Adeniyi stated that the importers had intended to divert the consignments into the domestic market instead of transporting them to designated Free Trade Zones for manufacturing purposes, as required under the law.
“The remarkable aspect of these seizures is that the containers were declared as machinery and spare parts. Physical examination, however, revealed that they contained vegetable oil and other prohibited items. This clearly indicates an intention to introduce them into the local market rather than use them for manufacturing activities within the Free Trade Zones,” he said.
The Comptroller General recalled that less than a month ago, the Cross River and Akwa Ibom Area Command intercepted two containers of vegetable oil destined for the Calabar Free Trade Zone, while records indicated that about 40 similar containers had previously been moved into the zone.
He announced that the seized containers were imported in violation of Sections 55 and 233 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 and disclosed that the Service would commence legal proceedings for their condemnation and final forfeiture.
Adeniyi further directed the Customs legal unit to prosecute all parties connected to the illegal importation, including importers, clearing agents and shipping companies found culpable in the transactions.
He also ordered a comprehensive audit of all containers whose customs processing had been suspended and transferred to the Tinapa Free Trade Zone, warning that no additional transfers would be approved until all outstanding consignments were fully accounted for.
As part of his visit to Rivers State, the Customs Comptroller General commissioned a newly reconstructed Primary Healthcare Centre in Ebubu, Eleme Local Government Area. The project was executed by the Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne, and Adeniyi described it as a reflection of the Service’s transformation into a modern, professional and community oriented institution.