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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Port Harcourt II Area Command, has intercepted 56 containers of prohibited goods with a total duty-paid value of N5.53 billion at the Onne Port in Rivers State.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this while showcasing the seized consignments to journalists at the command in Onne.
According to Adeniyi, the seizures were made through intelligence-driven and risk-based operations aimed at preventing prohibited, restricted and improperly declared consignments from entering the Nigerian market.
The intercepted goods comprised 45 20-foot containers of foreign vegetable oil, nine 40-foot containers of used clothing and two 20-foot containers of Channy tomato paste.
Adeniyi said the enforcement action was consistent with the Federal Government’s broader economic objectives of promoting locally produced goods and protecting domestic value chains.
He warned that unchecked importation of goods that could be produced or processed locally places additional pressure on Nigerian farmers, manufacturers and other domestic producers by exposing them to unfair competition.
According to him, large-scale importation of locally producible goods could weaken demand for domestic products, discourage investment and undermine efforts to strengthen food security, create jobs and diversify the economy.
The Customs boss, however, stressed that the enforcement measures were not intended to frustrate legitimate businesses but to maintain a fair and predictable trading environment for compliant operators.
He said the Service’s risk-based approach allows it to facilitate legitimate cargo while subjecting high-risk consignments to enhanced scrutiny.
Adeniyi commended the Customs Area Controller, Port Harcourt II Area Command, Aliyu Alkali, and officers of the command for the interceptions.
He also urged importers to verify the admissibility of their consignments before commencing transactions and ensure accurate declarations covering the description, quantity, value, origin and classification of goods.
He said compliance with import regulations would help businesses avoid enforcement actions while supporting legitimate trade and protecting domestic production.
