Western Marine Customs Makes ₦582m Seizures, Expands Facilities, Decorates 36 Officers With New Ranks

The Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service can rightly be said to be undergoing a quiet revolution in infrasctural development and operational excellence, as the command under the Leadership of Comptroller PN Ntadi recorded a seizures worth over ₦582 million, setting a new standard of preparedness in the fight against smuggling on the western waterways.

Underscoring the Nigeria Customs Service leadership commitment to motivating its workforce, the command the command also decorated 36 newly promoted officers and men of the command .

Since assuming office, Comptroller PN Ntadi has embarked on a mission to transform the Command into a model of discipline, efficiency and resilience. Speaking at a press briefing held at the command's headquarters in Ibafon Lagos, Ntadi unveiled a string of achievements that underscore the Command’s renewed momentum under his leadership.

One of the first challenges the Command tackled was the evacuation of hoodlums who had occupied land outside its perimeter fence for years. With the area reclaimed, a new security post now stands at the Command gate as a first line of defense. A redesigned Quarter Guard and a striking new marine symbol were also unveiled, reinforcing the Command’s identity as Nigeria’s premier maritime enforcement hub.

To boost water-borne patrols, the Command expanded its jetty to accommodate more boats, ensuring quicker response times to infractions. Outstations at Ere and Bar Beach, once neglected, have been fully rehabilitated, while renovation works at Igbokoda station are set to begin later this month.

Fleet efficiency has also improved, with four refurbished patrol boats and two upgraded operational vehicles added to logistics support. Officers now work with better welfare facilities, including a modern canteen and improved sanitary blocks.

On enforcement, the Command has recorded significant seizures that highlight its operational success. Between April and September, Western Marine Command intercepted the following;

1,827 bags of foreign parboiled rice (₦204.6m DPV)

174 sacks of ammonium sulphate and 86 sacks of polypropylene compounds (₦20.1m DPV)

1,312 loaves of imported cannabis variants—Arizona, Scottish, and Ghana Loud—worth over ₦232.8m

42 kegs of smuggled petrol (auctioned), 14 outboard engines, and multiple locally made boats

Altogether, these seizures carry a duty-paid value of over ₦582 million.

The highlight was the handover of the massive cannabis haul to officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Where Assistant Commander-General of Narcotics, Apapa Strategic Command, ACGN OB Wakawa, praised Customs for intercepting the illicit drugs, warning that their potency due to genetic modification posed a grave threat to public health and national security.

Adding to the day’s milestones, Comptroller Ntadi decorated 36 officers and men who were recently promoted within the Command. He noted that boosting officers’ morale through recognition and welfare remains central to sustaining efficiency in maritime operations.

Comptroller Ntadi appreciated the leadership of Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR  for the giving the Command the needed support in its infrastructural renewal drive.

While commending his officers and security partners, particularly NDLEA, for their unwavering collaboration, Ntadi said,  “These developments are not just structures; they are investments in security and efficiency;  “Together, we will continue to secure our maritime borders for the prosperity and safety of our nation.”