The House of Representatives Committees on Customs and Excise have been directed to investigate reports that personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) are aiding and abetting smuggling across the nation’s borders. This directive followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Sesi Whingan at plenary.
On Wednesday, the House also directed the Committees on Defence to critically examine the alleged brutality against Nigerians, as well as the role of military personnel attached to Customs patrols, to ensure that their operations do not contradict legal frameworks and human rights standards.
Rep. Whingan, in his motion, stated that under the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, the NCS is mandated to collect revenue, prevent smuggling, and ensure the security of Nigeria’s borders under Section 4 (b, e, and f). He alleged that rather than preventing smuggling, recent reports indicate that personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service across the borders are the kingpins behind smuggling activities.
He 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.
Whingan highlighted a report by Sahara Reporters on November 18, 2024, which revealed mass smuggling of over 2,000 cars carrying 6,500,000kg of rice through Badagry, allegedly under the watch of Customs officers, as evidence supporting these claims.
He also referenced videos published by investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo, which provided evidence of complicity by Customs officers in these illegal activities.
Whingan noted that, besides the allegations of aiding smuggling, Customs personnel have been reported in cases of brutality against citizens who attempted to document and expose their illegal activities.
He cited reports of brutality, including an incident along the Badagry-Seme Expressway on December 1, 2024, where officers from the Customs Service, in collaboration with soldiers, 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.
Whingan 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.
