The Nigeria Customs Service has revealed that the Badagry-Seme corridor accounted for 35% of smuggled Premium Motor Spirit in the last two weeks, making it the primary route for fuel smuggling.
Speaking on Monday at the Customs Training College in Ikeja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, showcased some of the intercepted petrol volumes and detailed the smuggling trends observed across the region.
“The first corridor is the Badagry-Seme corridor, which accounts for approximately 35 percent of the total seizures,” Adeniyi stated. He attributed this to the proximity to the Republic of Benin and the extensive network of waterways in the area, which smugglers exploit to move fuel across borders.
Adeniyi further outlined other key smuggling routes, noting that the Imeko-Afon axis in Ogun State contributed 25% of seizures, while the Ilaro-Ojodan route accounted for 22%, and the Owode-Ajilete corridor was responsible for 18%.
“These routes represent emerging corridors being exploited by smugglers attempting to evade traditional enforcement positions,” he explained.
The CGC disclosed that between January 11 and February 23, 2025, customs officers intercepted and confiscated 28,300 litres of petrol being smuggled using various concealment techniques. The duty-paid value of the seized fuel stands at N35.8 million.
“Three vehicles used as means of conveyance were also seized,” Adeniyi added, emphasizing that Operation Whirlwind, the NCS initiative targeting fuel smuggling, has continued to yield significant results in the Southwest geopolitical zone.
In another development, the Nigeria Customs Service has commenced the pre-launch of its ‘B’Odogwu’ trade facilitation platform in Apapa and Tincan Island commands. The platform, designed to replace the existing Nigerian Integrated Customs Information System II (NICIS II), aims to modernize customs operations, improve trade documentation efficiency, and enhance revenue collection.
During a stakeholders’ engagement in Apapa, Lagos, Adeniyi emphasized that the indigenous platform was developed to address inefficiencies in the previous system and streamline trade processes.
“This new system replaces the old platform with a more robust and indigenous solution, considering the frustrations associated with past customs management tools,” the CGC said.
The Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Information Technology/Modernization, Kikelomo Adeola, assured stakeholders of continuous engagement to refine the system.
“We have conducted extensive internal testing to ensure a smooth transition,” she said, adding that the pilot phase at the Ports & Terminal Multipurpose Limited Command earlier this year had been successful.
