The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir AdewaleAdeniyi, has disclosed the service has intercepted and destroyed over 200 containers of illicit substances across the country in recent time.

He said the feat was achieved through a collaborative framework that involved the NCS, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)

Adeniyi who stated this during a working visit to the Ogun II Area Command of the NCS in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, emphasized the importance of strategic partnerships, particularly on the ongoing clampdown on illicit drug trafficking.

He stressed the inter-agency collaboration has already yielded significant results, noting: “The three major agencies that are involved in law against drugs are the Customs, NDLEA and NAFDAC and I discovered that the more we work together closely, the more we get results.

“So, when Customs declared a state of emergency against importation of illicit drugs in the country, what I did was to rally the support of NAFDAC and NDLEA.

“We have conducted joint operations and this has led to the seizure of over 200 containers, we also came together under the coordination of the office of the National Security Adviser to ensure the destruction of those drugs to ensure that they do not get into the wrong hands.”

The Customs boss extended the same collaborative model to Nigeria’s border communities, particularly around Ogun State.

He said that Customs officers are embedded within these communities and benefit from local intelligence in tackling smuggling and other border-related challenges.

“This is the same template that we are using in our borders communities, all our customs command around the boarders are encouraged to have structures with which they relate with members of the communities, and because we operate there, we live with them, we also acknowledged the fact that they know the terrain and we have superior intelligence about what is happening in those places and we leverage this intelligence that they provide for us in our operations.

“I assure you that we have a structure for collaboration and we are leveraging on those structures to ensure that we work together.”

Recognizing Ogun State’s strategic importance as Nigeria’s industrial gateway and border state, Adeniyi commended Governor DapoAbiodun for leveraging the state’s location to attract investments and infrastructure development.

His words: “Ogun State is a very strategic place in Nigeria,In terms of the strategic location, we all refers to Ogun state as the Gateway State into Nigeria and Ogun state is living up to this appellation.

“Ogun State has a very important and strategic border area, border point, the major points in Idiroko borders that we shared with the Republic of Benin.

“As a very big industrial hub in the country, we now have a State Governor, DapoAbiodun leveraging this important asset to strategic location in Ogun State.

“I’m here today to assure the governor and the good people of the states, that Nigeria Customs Service would continue to remain a very strong partner of our nation towards economic prosperity, using these initiatives as a pillar,”

Welcoming the Comptroller General, the Customs Area Controller of Ogun II Command, Mr. BisiAlade described Adeniyi’s visit as a strong statement of commitment to professionalism, discipline, and accountability in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

He noted that reforms carried out by the CG, had positively impacted all commands, including Ogun II.

“Ogun II Command has continued to uphold the Service’s core mandate through discipline, integrity and selfless service.

 “Your leadership has transformed the Service, and we are proud beneficiaries.”

Highlighting the command’s structure, Alade said Ogun II oversees 67 excise factories, three Free Trade Zones (FTZs), and a bonded terminal, making it a critical hub for trade and revenue generation in the country.

According to him, the Command recorded a total revenue collection of N15.19 billion between January and April 2025 – a 40% increase from the N9.16 billion generated in the same period last year.

The revenue breakdown revealed N8.33 billion from excise duty, N7.16 billion from the Free Trade Zones, and N1.49 billion from the bonded terminal. Monthly collections peaked in April with N4.26 billion.

Alade noted the revenue figure excluded N5.21 billion collected at the Flour Mill Free Trade Zone, which is yet to be transferred from the Lekki Free Trade Zone Command. “We have reached an agreement to credit it to Ogun II Command,” he assured.

Alade disclosed that an illegal factory had been discovered and brought under excise control.

He attributed the command’s success to improved intelligence gathering, stronger stakeholder engagement, and a revitalized monitoring unit.

He also highlighted Ogun II Command’s new involvement in supervising the Sagamu Cargo Airport and the Papalanto Dry Port – projects recently flagged off by Governor DapoAbiodun.

Despite the success, Alade listed several challenges: lack of operational vehicles, insufficient infrastructure, delays in project execution, and the need for solar power and laboratory equipment for the clinic.

He expressed gratitude to the CGC for his leadership, calling the visit a morale booster to officers and men of the command.