The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Command, said it made 54 seizures with a Duty Paid Value of N22.8 billion in 2023.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Babajide Jaiyeoba, said this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.
The statement was signed by CSC Abubakar Usman, Public Relations Officer of the command.
Jaiyeoba said the seizures comprises prohibited goods, foreign parboiled rice and vegetable oil, among others.
“These seizures were made due to infractic import/export prohibition lists, false declaration and others.
“A breakdown of the seizures comprises prohibited goods such as used clothing, foreign parboiled rice, vegetable oil, tomato paste and others,” he said.
Jaiyeoba warned smugglers and traders to desist from any form of illegality, describing Apapa Port as a no-go area for such acts.
He said any attempt to test their resolve would be met with seizures of their wares, arrest and prosecution of suspects in accordance with the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023.
Jaiyeoba said he would continue to ensure stronger collaboration with sister government such as the Nigerian Ports Authority, Police, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Department of State Services and others.
“We understand the dynamic nature of maritime related crimes and have resolved to keep working together while trying to think ahead of criminal elements who may want to use Apapa Port.
“The collaboration has yielded gains in our individual services and ensuring Apapa port remains safe for port users,” he said.
According to him, the command operates an open-door policy where they meet regularly with stakeholders to address matters of common interest.
Jaiyeoba said dispute resolution, query and amendment seats had been made more active to address the needs and legitimate demands of port users
