Nigeria Customs Chief Calls for Vigilance Against Smuggling

On October 20, 2026, Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, urged for heightened vigilance against arms smuggling in anticipation of the upcoming elections. Speaking at the third Distinguished Personality Lecture at the TETFUND Centre of Excellence in Security Management, University of Ibadan, he argued that intelligence, data, and joint patrols with neighboring countries are more effective in curbing smuggling than merely sealing borders.

Adeniyi highlighted that the revenue generated by the Customs Service is crucial for the government to fulfill its social contract with citizens. He noted that the land border closure from August 2019 to December 2020 did not dismantle smuggling networks but reorganized them.

He called for scrutiny of import concessions and emphasized the need for improved compliance and trade facilitation to meet the 2026 revenue target of ₦11.07 trillion. Adeniyi also reported the seizure of 1,599 firearms from 2018 to 2024, including a significant interception of rifles and ammunition in June 2024.