Ogun Customs Generates ₦259.2m Revenue, Seizes ₦4.6bn Smuggled Goods in Q2 2026 – Nigeria Updates- Breaking News, Nigerian News, Politics, Sports, Entertainment and Business – Nigeriaupdates.com
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Ogun Customs Generates ₦259.2m Revenue, Seizes ₦4.6bn Smuggled Goods in Q2 2026

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The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it generated more than ₦259.2 million in revenue and intercepted smuggled goods worth ₦4.6 billion during the second quarter of 2026, as authorities intensified efforts to curb cross-border crimes and boost legitimate trade.

The revenue and seizures were recorded between 1 April and 23 June 2026, covering an 83-day period.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Command Headquarters in Idiroko, Ogun State, the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, said the results reflected intelligence-led enforcement, improved operational discipline and stronger compliance with customs regulations.

“The increase in revenue is a reflection of our officers’ dedication to blocking leakages and ensuring strict compliance with import and export regulations. Our resolve against compromise has continued to yield positive results,” Afeni said.

Why it matters

The figures highlight Nigeria Customs’ continuing campaign against smuggling, which authorities say deprives government of revenue, undermines local industries and fuels organised cross-border crime.

Customs officials also argue that preventing the illegal importation of goods helps protect local manufacturers, farmers and consumers from unfair competition and unsafe products.

Revenue rises by 238%

According to the Command, revenue generated from baggage assessments, auctions of perishable goods, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other statutory charges reached ₦259,277,346.89 during the review period.

That represents a 238% increase compared with the ₦76.8 million generated during the same period in 2025.

Major anti-smuggling operations

The Command recorded 146 seizures with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦4.6 billion.

Among the most significant interceptions was a truck stopped in Ijebu-Ode on 3 June, carrying 2,427 substandard pneumatic tyres. The vehicle had been deceptively marked “For Sale” to avoid detection.

Officials described the tyres as unsafe and potentially dangerous to motorists.

In another operation on 16 June, customs officers intercepted a truck along the Itori-Wasimi-Abeokuta road after its driver allegedly attempted to ram into a patrol team while fleeing arrest.

A search of the truck uncovered 113 bags of foreign parboiled rice hidden beneath bags of cement. Customs said the suspect remains in custody and will face prosecution.

Earlier, on 14 June, officers also intercepted another truck carrying 630 bags of foreign rice at Afamin-Igbogila.

Other seizures during the period included:

– 2,807 bags of foreign parboiled rice

– 9,482 parcels of cannabis sativa

– 62 sacks of raw marijuana

– 16,525 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)

– 7,642 pairs of footwear

– 63 sacks of foreign sugar

– 73 bales of used clothing

– 1,000 tablets of Tramadol 225mg

Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni briefs journalists at the Ogun I Customs Command headquarters.

“Every smuggled item that enters the country weakens local production, destroys jobs, and undermines the nation’s economy. We will continue to pursue smugglers relentlessly,” Afeni said.

Export activities resume

Beyond enforcement, the Command reported significant progress in export facilitation.

It processed the export of 20,972 metric tonnes of goods valued at more than ₦1.049 billion Free on Board (FOB), compared with no exports during the corresponding period in 2025.

The exports included white talc, crushed thermal coal and compressed natural gas (CNG).

The development could signal increased cross-border trade activity through the Idiroko corridor, an important gateway between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

Collaboration with security agencies

Afeni said the Command had strengthened cooperation with Nigerian and Beninese security agencies through the Joint Border Security Committee to dismantle criminal hideouts along the Idiroko-Igolo border corridor.

He warned smugglers and other criminal groups to stay away from the border.

“We will continue to make the border unsafe for criminal activities,” he said.

The Command also handed over 6,981 parcels of Cannabis Indica (Ghana Loud) and 62 sacks of raw marijuana to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Additionally, 77 cartons of Analgin injections containing 138,600 tubes and 1,000 Tramadol tablets were transferred to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation.

Afeni described the handovers as evidence of growing collaboration among security and regulatory agencies in protecting public health and national security.

Expert perspective

Security and trade analysts have consistently argued that sustained customs enforcement, supported by intelligence sharing and regional cooperation, is critical to reducing illicit trade across Nigeria’s land borders.

However, experts also note that long-term success depends on improving border infrastructure, expanding legitimate trade opportunities and addressing the economic factors that encourage smuggling.

What happens next?

The Ogun I Area Command says it will sustain intelligence-driven operations while strengthening trade facilitation and collaboration with partner agencies.

The Command also pledged to continue enforcing customs laws while supporting legitimate businesses operating through the Idiroko border corridor.

Business

Jamara Home Launches August 2026 Rainy-season Appliance Sales Campaign

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Jamara Home has launched a three-week sales campaign offering discounts on household appliances as Nigerian consumers enter a period of continued rainfall and increased demand for some home products.

The retailer says its “Stay Dry, Shop Fly” campaign will run from 4 to 24 August 2026, with televisions, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, air conditioners, gas cookers, fans and other household products included.

Jamara Home says the campaign covers products from more than 30 international brands.

Oluwatomi Faniran, Head of Marketing at Jamara Home, said the campaign was intended to make household appliances more affordable.

“The rainy season changes the way many families live and interact within their homes, making dependable home appliances even more essential. Through our ‘Stay Dry, Shop Fly’ campaign, we’re giving customers access to genuine products from trusted global brands at exceptional prices, helping them create comfortable homes without placing unnecessary pressure on their finances. At Jamara Home, our focus has always been on delivering quality, value, and an enjoyable shopping experience for every customer.”

Who stands to benefit?

For Jamara Home, the campaign provides an opportunity to increase sales during a period when retailers traditionally promote weather-related products.

For consumers, the potential benefit is straightforward: a genuine reduction in the cost of an appliance that a household already needs.

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Nigeria Customs Seizes Rifle Components, ₦373.8m Cannabis Products at Lagos Port

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Nigeria Customs says it has intercepted components for more than 140 pump-action rifles and cannabis-infused products valued at ₦373.8m at Tincan Island Port in Lagos.

The seizures, announced on Thursday, 6 August, involved three containers and have raised fresh questions about how prohibited weapons and psychoactive substances are being concealed within Nigeria’s legitimate import system.

Customs said one container, which arrived aboard the vessel MV VELIKA on 8 July, was subjected to enhanced scrutiny after being flagged by its intelligence-led risk management system.

Officers subsequently found concealed crates containing what Customs described as knocked-down components preliminarily identified as JOJEFF pump-action rifles.

Two people have been arrested, according to the service, while another alleged principal suspect remains at large.

Customs has not publicly identified the suspects or disclosed the declared contents of the container, the country of origin of the components, their intended destination or how the shipment entered the port’s clearance process.

Those details will be important in determining whether the seizure was simply a case of successful interception or also points to weaknesses in the systems designed to prevent prohibited cargo from entering Nigeria.

A familiar name in Nigeria’s arms-trafficking history

The reference to JOJEFF weapons is significant because the brand has appeared in previous Nigerian arms seizures.

In 2017, Customs intercepted 661 pump-action rifles concealed in a 40-foot container in Lagos.

The weapons were identified in reports at the time as JOJEFF-branded and had been concealed among goods declared as steel doors and other merchandise.

A separate Conflict Armament Research investigation later documented JOJEFF and other Turkish-manufactured shotguns in Nigeria.

It found that Nigerian authorities had seized more than 2,000 pump-action and semi-automatic shotguns in four shipments in 2017, with the weapons concealed in containers shipped by sea to Lagos.

That history means the latest seizure is more than an isolated customs announcement.

It potentially forms part of a longer pattern in which firearms are moved through commercial shipping routes and disguised among legitimate cargo.

But the available information does not establish that the latest shipment is connected to any of those earlier cases.

Why rifle components matter

The Customs statement refers to “knocked-down components”, rather than assembled firearms.

That distinction matters. Components can be easier to conceal than complete weapons, while the exact number of complete firearms that could ultimately be assembled from the seized parts has not been independently established.

Customs’ description of the items as components “preliminarily identified” as JOJEFF rifles also indicates that technical identification or further examination may still be required.

Nigeria’s Firearms Act regulates the possession, importation and export of firearms and includes provisions governing prohibited firearms and their components. The law requires authorisation for the importation of prohibited firearms.

The 1966 amendment to the legislation specifically brought pump-action or other mechanically reloaded shotguns within the category of prohibited firearms.

The precise legal classification of the seized components, however, would depend on what exactly was recovered and the applicable licence and import documentation.

Customs’ risk system faces a bigger test

Customs says the shipment was detected through its intelligence-driven risk management system.

That claim is consistent with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, which requires the service to use organisational and intelligence-driven risk management in its operations, including customs clearance procedures. The law also provides for risk registers and profiles to support those operations.

But a successful interception does not, by itself, show how effective the system is across all cargo entering Nigerian ports.

The unanswered question is how many similar consignments are identified before clearance, how many escape detection, and whether intelligence is being shared quickly enough between Customs and other security agencies.

Those figures were not provided in the announcement.

Cannabis products worth ₦373.8m

In a separate operation, Customs said officers intercepted two 40-foot containers carrying cannabis-infused products hidden alongside used vehicles, generators, batteries and other imported goods.

The agency listed 109 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused pre-roll cookies, 125 cartons of Delta-8 cannabis-infused gummies and 73 cartons of cannabis-infused cookies.

It put their combined street value at ₦373,802,640.

The announcement does not explain how Customs arrived at that valuation, whether laboratory testing has confirmed the stated cannabinoid content, or whether the products have been formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, which is responsible for combating drug trafficking in Nigeria.

That distinction is important because a “street value” is an enforcement estimate, not necessarily the amount that the goods would have fetched in a legitimate market.

The NDLEA has separately reported several major seizures of cannabis products entering Nigeria through Lagos. In July, for example, the agency took custody of 6,778.5kg of Canadian Loud, a strain of cannabis, after a joint examination involving Customs and other security agencies at Apapa Port.

In May, the agency also reported the arrest of a foreign national over an attempt to bring 31kg of synthetic cannabis into Nigeria through Lagos airport.

The latest Customs seizure therefore comes against a backdrop of continuing attempts to move cannabis products through Nigeria’s international transport gateways.

Customs links seizure to 2027 election security

Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi also connected the latest interception to preparations for Nigeria’s next general election.

“We are about entering a major election cycle and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this. We are going to redouble our efforts to ensure that we do not allow them to do so.”

Adeniyi also warned against internal collusion within the service.

“The Nigeria Customs Service will not harbour any of these people who want to serve as accomplices or use their position to influence the importation of goods that will threaten our peace and security and the peaceful conduct of the next general election.”

What happens next?

Customs says investigations are continuing and that it intends to identify and prosecute everyone connected with the consignments.

The critical test will therefore come after the seizure.

Authorities will need to establish who imported the goods, who financed them, where they came from, their intended destination, how they were declared to Customs and whether anyone within or outside the port system helped them move through the supply chain.

The identities of those arrested, the charges eventually filed and the outcome of any prosecution will provide a clearer measure of the success of the operation than the seizure figures alone.

For now, Customs has demonstrated that prohibited weapons components and cannabis products can still be concealed within commercial cargo entering Lagos.

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Adron Group Chairman Hails Threeco Construction CEO Muraina Banjoko on 65th Birthday

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The Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Adron Group, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, has congratulated construction entrepreneur Otunba Muraina Olatunji Banjoko on his 65th birthday, describing him as a business leader whose work has influenced Nigeria’s construction sector and community development efforts.

In a goodwill message released on Thursday, Emmanuelking praised the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Threeco Construction Company Limited for what he described as decades of leadership in business and philanthropy.

Why it matters

Nigeria’s construction industry remains a major contributor to infrastructure development and employment, despite challenges such as rising building costs, inflation and financing constraints.

Industry leaders who have sustained businesses over several decades are often recognised for their contributions to economic growth, skills development and corporate social responsibility.

Emmanuelking said Banjoko had built Threeco Construction Company Limited into a company associated with quality, professionalism and reliability.

“As Otunba Muraina Olatunji Banjoko marks this remarkable milestone, we celebrate not only his achievements but also his commitment to excellence, integrity, and service to humanity. His life remains a shining example of purposeful leadership and enduring impact.”

He added that the businessman had distinguished himself not only as an entrepreneur but also through humanitarian initiatives that have benefited communities.

Recognition beyond business

The Adron Group chairman also highlighted several traditional and honorary titles held by Banjoko, including Oluwo of Ibaragunland, Baba Adini of Akuteland, Ifo Local Government Renewed Hope Ambassador, Otunba of Akuteland, Bashorun of Agbado and Dr. Olowore Adini of Egbaland.

According to Emmanuelking, the honours reflect the respect Banjoko commands across business, religious and traditional institutions.

He prayed that the businessman would enjoy good health, wisdom and many more years of service.

Industry perspective

Business analysts say longevity in Nigeria’s construction sector often reflects an ability to navigate economic downturns, changing government policies and fluctuating material costs.

They note that beyond delivering projects, construction firms are increasingly expected to contribute to community development, environmental sustainability and job creation.

Public perspective

For many Nigerians, successful entrepreneurs who invest in community projects are viewed as complementing government efforts in areas such as education, infrastructure and youth empowerment.

However, governance experts also argue that corporate philanthropy should complement—not replace—public investment in essential services.

What we know

While Emmanuelking’s tribute celebrates Banjoko’s achievements, no new corporate initiative or policy announcement accompanied the birthday message.

The statement focuses on recognising the construction executive’s career, philanthropy and leadership within Nigeria’s private sector.

What next?

As Banjoko marks the milestone, attention is likely to remain on how established indigenous construction companies continue adapting to Nigeria’s evolving infrastructure needs and economic realities.

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