The House of Representatives has instructed its Committees on Customs and Excise and Defence to conduct a joint investigation into the operations and activities of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the nation’s borders.
Naija News understands that this directive comes following allegations of complicity in smuggling and instances of brutality against Nigerian citizens by the government service.
Also, the House directed the Committees on Defence and Customs and Excise to scrutinize the involvement of military personnel in Customs patrols, ensuring that their operations adhere to legal standards and respect for human rights.
The committees’ mandates include:
Recommendation of appropriate measures to enhance oversight accountability and efficiency within the Customs Service to restore public trust and safeguard Nigeria’s economic and national security interests.
The committees are to report back within six weeks for further legislative actions.
The action taken by the House follows reports of smuggling incidents involving goods and arms entering the country via its borders.
It has been reported that the suspected involvement of Customs officials and other security personnel stationed at the borders plays a significant role in the elevated levels of smuggling activities within the nation.
Naija News reports that the resolutions by the House were adopted after Rep. Sesi Whingan presented a motion of urgent public importance during the plenary session.
In his motion, Rep. Whingan referenced Section 4 (b, e, and f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which mandates the NCS to collect revenue, prevent smuggling, and secure Nigeria’s borders.
However, he alleged that instead of fulfilling these responsibilities, recent reports indicated that NCS personnel were facilitating smuggling activities.
He informed the House of a report by Sahara Reporters dated November 18, 2024, which highlighted the mass smuggling of over 2,000 vehicles carrying 6,500,000 kg of rice through Badagry, purportedly occurring under the supervision of Customs officers.
Furthermore, he mentioned that videos released by investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo provided evidence of the involvement of Customs officers in these illicit activities.
Whingan also noted that, in addition to the smuggling allegations, Customs personnel have been implicated in acts of brutality against citizens attempting to document and expose their unlawful actions.
He cited reports of such brutality, including an incident on December 1, 2024, along the Badagry-Seme Expressway, where Customs officers, in collaboration with military personnel, allegedly assaulted two transporters, Taofeek Olatunbosun and Rafiu Abdelmalik.
“The victims were suspected of documenting smuggling activities, leading to threats against their lives and a standoff that required intervention from residents and police,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed that smuggling has severe economic consequences, including undermining local industries, reducing government revenues, promoting unfair trade practices, and flooding markets with substandard and potentially harmful products.
He further said that the actions of some officers within the Customs Service contravene its core mandate, erode public trust and raise concerns about the oversight of joint security operations involving military personnel.
Naija News understands, however, that the NCS is yet to react to the allegations and the decision of the House.
According to Daily Trust, attempts to get comments from the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, proved abortive as he did not take the calls nor respond to WhatsApp and SMS messages.
Alleged Smuggling Despite Multiple Checkpoints
Speaking further at the session yesterday, Whingan expressed concerns that despite the presence of multiple checkpoints during the day, particularly in Badagry and other border communities in the nation, economic activities and legitimate trade are paralysed by excessive scrutiny and alleged extortion by Customs officers and other law enforcement personnel.
The lawmaker said: “At night, these same officers reportedly enable or turn a blind eye to rampant smuggling activities, undermining public trust and perpetuating economic hardship.”
He said small businesses such as rice farmers and poultry producers cannot compete with the influx of contraband goods, leading to job losses and impoverishment.
Besides, the lawmaker lamented that “the erosion of law and order in border regions like Badagry threatens community stability, leaving citizens vulnerable and disillusioned.”
The lawmaker expressed concerns regarding the purported involvement of Customs officials in smuggling activities and the employment of violence to intimidate citizens, which he believes present considerable threats to national security, economic stability, and the rule of law.
He emphasized that the integrity of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is vital for safeguarding Nigeria’s borders, promoting legitimate trade, and maintaining the nation’s economic and social welfare.
The legislator asserted that rectifying the identified shortcomings is crucial for rebuilding public trust and preserving the country’s sovereignty.
How I Attempted To Illegally Import 100 Bags Of Rice From Benin – Fisayo Soyombo
In February 2024, a popular investigative journalist affiliated with FIJ, Fisayo Soyombo, released a comprehensive report entitled “Undercover as a Smuggler.” This report indicated the potential involvement of Customs officials in smuggling operations at the borders.
Soyombo’s investigation was prompted by numerous complaints regarding the vulnerability of Nigeria’s borders. He reported that he endeavoured to clandestinely import 100 bags of rice from the Republic of Benin into Nigeria.
Soyombo said he succeeded in doing so “without the faintest security resistance, working with information from greedy Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) bosses who betrayed patrol teams by updating smugglers on their colleagues’ itinerary and the days and times when the roads were free, and daredevil smugglers with insider knowledge of the forests, the roads and Customs officers.”
In the report, the investigative journalist stated how he was allegedly linked with some top smuggling kingpins with high connections with compromised top Customs officials, who allowed him to smuggle the said quantity of rice into the country after they had extorted him.
