As land borders were closed in August 2019, and emphasis was placed on locally-produced and processed rice, Mr Afiz Oladejo, a medium-sized rice processor based in Lokoja, Kogi State

The Federal Government’s dreams of encouraging locally-made goods and boosting food production in the country is gradually being sabotaged in Taraba State, as smuggling activities continue to thrive, despite closure of all land borders by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has intercepted 235 contraband with total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N91,165,860 within the first 45 days of this year.

The Federal Government, through some of its agencies, have recorded some gains in the fight to curb smuggling across the country’s land borders, especially for commodities like rice and petrol. With this success comes a huge cost to the country and several businesses in terms of revenue loss.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said his administration ordered a partial closure of Nigeria’s border with Benin Republic to tame the ‘massive’ smuggling activities, especially of rice, taking place on that corridor.

The National Palm Produce Association of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to closely monitor its borders with neighbouring countries to check rising cases of smuggling of palm oil and other products thereby denying the country the needed foreign exchange inflows.

Rice millers have raised the alarm over unbecoming rate of smuggling in the Nigeria, alleging that over 50 trucks of foreign rice are smuggled into the country daily.

President of Da­ngote Group, Aliko Dangote, yesterday, urged the Fed­eral Government to push for stiffer action aga­inst dumping of goods in Nigeria smuggle­d through the neighbouring Republic of Benin. Dangote stated this while speaking with State House ­Correspondents after a meeting of the Indus­trial Policy and Competiveness Advisory ­Council (Industrial Council) presided o­ver by Vice…

It is definitely no longer business as usual for the smugglers that adopted the creek as route for their nefarious activities, as the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone “A” of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) beamed it searchlight to the creeks, waterside at various locations in Southwest region of the country. Indeed, the recent operations…

Although the Federal Government has stepped up its campaign for patronage of locally manufactured goods, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), has expressed concern over the increasing rate of smuggling, an activity believed to be threatening the competitiveness of the productive sector.    According to MAN, low purchasing power on the part of consumers has…

The Guardian investigations revealed that the smugglers are on daily basis devising numerous antics to beat the Customs formation. In most cases, such acts are perpetrated at night when they flaunt their arms, ready for combat with the officers....

The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday said the Federal Government intended to collaborate with neighbouring countries to curb smuggling in Nigeria.