The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has seized 20 diverted transit containers with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦769.53 million across the Kano/Jigawa Area Command between 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 Customs House in Kano, where the seized consignments were displayed alongside measures being deployed to curb cargo diversion and other trade-related infractions.
Adeniyi said the seizures underscore the Service’s resolve to facilitate legitimate trade while maintaining zero tolerance for violations that undermine national security, revenue generation and economic stability.
He lamented that despite government investments in Free Trade Zones and the adoption of international best practices, some operators still divert containers en route to inland terminals and bonded facilities, in breach of Section 64(b) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
According to him, cargo diversion erodes government revenue, fuels commercial fraud and exposes the country to grave security and reputational risks, noting that intelligence-driven enforcement has continued to yield positive results.
Breaking down the seizures, the Customs boss said seven containers of vitrified tiles valued at ₦228.58 million were intercepted along the Hadejia Road corridor after being unlawfully diverted from the Kano Free Trade Zone. Two containers of diesel engine oil worth ₦87.56 million and two containers of polyester materials valued at ₦77.99 million were also seized from private warehouses in the Dakata Industrial Area.
He added that a container carrying 308 bales of used clothing with a DPV of ₦48.42 million was intercepted near the Gano bonded terminal, while four containers laden with printed and lace fabrics valued at ₦226.15 million were intercepted while being diverted en route to bonded terminals in Kano.
Other seizures included a container of Zamzam-branded bottled water valued at ₦21.46 million, which contravened the Common External Tariff, as well as three containers conveying medical consumables and lace fabrics with a combined DPV of ₦25.2 million. Two of the containers carrying medical items were forfeited to the Federal Government following a judgment of the Federal High Court in Kano on December 10, 2025.
Adeniyi disclosed that one container of printed fabrics valued at ₦75.01 million remains under detention pending the conclusion of legal processes. He also revealed that a suspect, Abdulrahman Sani Adam, was convicted for container diversion and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦3 million fine.
The Comptroller-General further announced that the Service is finalising plans for the nationwide deployment of an electronic cargo tracking system, already piloted across the South-West and North-West corridors, including Kano/Jigawa, to enable real-time monitoring and instant alerts whenever containers deviate from approved routes.
Warning smugglers and their collaborators, Adeniyi said the NCS now possesses enhanced operational capacity and technology to detect, track and prosecute offenders. He urged shipping agents, freight forwarders and importers to strictly comply with approved transit procedures.
“The Nigeria Customs Service remains a reliable partner in legitimate trade, but this partnership is founded on respect for the law and integrity,” he said, calling on the public to report suspicious activities to the nearest Customs office.
