Customs seizes 20 diverted containers worth N769m in Kano, Jigawa
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 20 diverted transit containers with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦769.5 million in Kano and Jigawa states in the second and fourth quarters of 2025. The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing at the Kano/Jigawa Area Command headquarters. Adeniyi […]
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 20 diverted transit containers with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦769.5 million in Kano and Jigawa states in the second and fourth quarters of 2025.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Friday during a press briefing at the Kano/Jigawa Area Command headquarters.
Adeniyi said the seizures were part of intensified enforcement efforts to curb the diversion of containers legitimately destined for inland terminals and Free Trade Zones, describing the act as a serious violation of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
According to him, cargo diversion poses grave economic and security risks, including revenue loss, unfair trade practices and damage to Nigeria’s international reputation.
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Giving a breakdown, the Customs boss said seven containers of vitrified tiles valued at ₦228.5 million were intercepted along the Hadejia Road corridor after being unlawfully diverted from the Kano Free Trade Zone.
He added that two containers of diesel engine oil worth ₦87.5 million and two containers of polyester materials valued at ₦77.9 million were seized at private warehouses in Dakata Industrial Area.
Other seizures included one container of used clothing valued at ₦48.4 million intercepted along the Yankaba/Hadejia Road axis; four containers of printed and lace fabrics worth ₦226.1 million seized along Hotoro/Maiduguri and Zaria/Kano roads; and one container of Zamzam bottled water valued at ₦21.4 million intercepted at APM Terminal, Kano.
Adeniyi further disclosed that three containers containing medical consumables and lace fabrics valued at ₦25.2 million were seized in Dakata, out of which two were forfeited to the Federal Government following a Federal High Court judgment delivered in Kano on December 10, 2025.
He said one container intercepted at Kwari Market with a DPV of ₦75 million was still under detention pending legal action.
The Customs CG also revealed that one Abdulrahman Sani Adam was convicted by the Federal High Court, Kano, on December 10, 2025, and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with an option of a ₦3 million fine for involvement in container diversion.
To address the challenge, Adeniyi said the Service had stepped up the deployment of an electronic cargo tracking system, noting that over 40 containers had already been fitted with tracking devices within the Kano/Jigawa Command.
He said the tracking system, which has been tested in the South-West and North-West corridors, would soon be deployed nationwide to provide real-time monitoring of containers from ports to their final destinations.
The Customs boss warned importers, freight forwarders and shipping agents to strictly comply with transit regulations, stressing that the Service would not hesitate to prosecute offenders and impose forfeitures and other penalties.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service to trade facilitation, revenue generation and national security, while urging members of the public to report suspicious activities to the nearest Customs office.