Agorehmi Bright, Reporting
PORT HARCOURT — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the interception of 56 containers laden with banned vegetable oil, assorted used clothing and tomato paste with a Duty Paid Value exceeding N5.53 billion at the Onne Port in Rivers State.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, revealed this on Tuesday during a press briefing in Port Harcourt, stating that the seized containers were falsely declared as plants, spare parts and machinery.
According to Mr Adeniyi, who also serves as Chairman of the World Customs Organisation Council, the haul comprised 45 containers holding over 1.1 million litres of vegetable oil, nine containers of assorted used clothing and two containers of tomato paste.
He explained that the interception followed an intelligence-driven review of cargoes destined for Free Trade Zones, which exposed flagrant abuse of incentives and waivers granted by the Federal Government to encourage local production.
“Each of the 45 containers of vegetable oil, branded ‘Deliceoux’, contained 1,050 jerry cans of 25 litres each, valued at N4.25 billion,” he said. “The nine 40-foot containers of used clothing and two 20-footer containers of tomato paste were valued at N1.04 billion and N232 million respectively, bringing the total to N5,530,080,000.”
The Customs boss noted that while the Federal Government permits operators in free zones to import raw materials and machinery duty-free—and in some cases goods under import prohibition—investigations revealed these concessions were being diverted into the local market.
“This meeting is very important because we need to have a conversation on what we need to do to support our local industries,” Mr Adeniyi stated. “Our quest to facilitate trade and ensure prompt port clearance should not be exploited to damage the local economy and local production capacity.”
He added: “The remarkable thing about these containers is that they were declared as machinery and spare parts, but upon physical examination we discovered they were vegetable oil. The intention is clearly to introduce them into our local markets.”
The Customs Chief recalled that less than a month ago, the Cross River/Akwa Ibom Command seized two 40-footer containers of vegetable oil being diverted from the Calabar Free Trade Zone, while approximately 40 other containers had earlier been taken into the zone under questionable circumstances.
Mr Adeniyi announced that the seized containers contravened Sections 55 and 233 of the NCS Act 2023, and that court processes had been initiated for condemnation and final forfeiture. He also revealed plans to prosecute importers, agents and shipping companies involved, as well as conduct a comprehensive audit of all containers transferred to Tinapa Free Trade Zone, with further transfers suspended until all previous ones are accounted for.
He commended the Customs Area Controller, Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne, Comptroller Aliyu Alkali, and his officers for their diligence.
Healthcare Centre Handed Over
Shortly after the briefing, Mr Adeniyi commissioned the reconstructed Ebubu Primary Healthcare Centre, built by the Onne Command as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility drive.
The Customs boss described the project as a milestone in the transformation of the NCS into a modern, professional and responsive institution, noting it was executed under the “Customs Care” initiative launched in Abuja on 28 March 2025.
“This event is significant because we are reaffirming that our responsibility extends beyond revenue collection and border security to making meaningful contributions to the communities where we serve,” he said.
Comptroller Aliyu Alkali explained that the facility, which had been abandoned and dilapidated, was rehabilitated to restore a critical community asset serving Ebubu and surrounding communities, particularly expectant mothers and children.
The Executive Secretary, Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr Chituru Adele, represented by Dr Tonye Lawson-Jack, thanked the Customs Service for the intervention and assured of proper maintenance.
The Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Chief Obarilomate Ollor, represented by his Vice, Mrs Virtue Eke, and the Paramount Ruler of Ebubu, Emere Godwin Chinwi, also expressed gratitude to the NCS.
The event climaxed with the conferment of the chieftaincy title of “Emere Owun’se-Oboru Eta 1 of Ebubu, Eleme”—meaning “The King that helped build and developed Ebubu people”—on the Comptroller-General.
