Customs Raises ₦7.98bn for FG in Kwara as Nigeria Grapples With Rising Debt
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, generated ₦7.978 billion in revenue for the Federal Government between January and August 2026, highlighting the growing pressure on revenue-generating agencies as government continues to rely heavily on borrowing amid rising public debt.
The figure was disclosed by the Acting Area Controller of the Kwara Command, Comptroller Najeem Ogundeyi, while presenting the command’s achievements in Ilorin.
Ogundeyi said the revenue performance reflects the command’s commitment to maximising government revenue while balancing trade facilitation with its national security responsibilities.
The development comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s persistent fiscal pressures, with government facing the challenge of raising more domestic revenue to finance public expenditure and reduce dependence on borrowing.
Beyond revenue generation, the command said it intercepted several consignments linked to smuggling and other cross-border offences between January and August.
Ogundeyi disclosed that eight major seizures were recorded across different operational corridors within the command.
They included 80 bales and six sacks of used clothing intercepted along the Ogbomoso-Jebba axis, with a duty-paid value of ₦32.3 million; 6,875 litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, intercepted along the Bukuro-Okuta-Chikanda axis, valued at ₦2.7 million; and 3,396 packets of Tramadol 100mg intercepted along the Okuta axis, with a duty-paid value of ₦50.9 million.
The command also intercepted 14 bags of Basmati rice, valued at ₦350,000; 6,705 cartons of foreign spaghetti, with a duty-paid value of ₦201 million; and 270 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50kg, with a duty-paid value of ₦25 million.
Two vehicles — a 2025 Toyota Highlander and a 2018 Dodge Charger SXT — were also seized.
Ogundeyi said the seizures demonstrate the changing tactics of smugglers, who have shifted from the diversion of critical energy products such as PMS to the trafficking of pharmaceuticals, food products and uncustomed luxury vehicles.
He stressed that the interception of food products should not be interpreted as an attempt to frustrate legitimate food imports, explaining that the Customs Service was enforcing compliance with laws governing cross-border trade.
According to him, the command would not allow Kwara’s border corridors to become a safe haven for smugglers.
Ogundeyi warned that unregulated importation and smuggling pose risks to Nigeria’s economy, adding that the command’s successes were driven by intelligence-led operations.
He commended sister security agencies for their cooperation and appealed to residents of border communities, traditional institutions and other stakeholders to support the fight against smuggling.
As Nigeria continues to search for sustainable ways of funding government programmes without worsening its debt burden, the Kwara Customs revenue underscores the importance of strengthening domestic revenue collection while blocking leakages through smuggling and other illicit cross-border activities.
