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Customs, World Bank Concludes Two-Week PCA Mission to Strengthen Audit Operations‎

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the World Bank Group under the Accelerated Revenue Mobilisation Reform (ARMOR) Programme, has concluded a two-week Technical Assistance Mission on Post Clearance Audit (PCA). The programme held from 1 to 12 June 2026 focused on strengthening compliance management, revenue assurance, and trade facilitation through modern audit practices. ‎Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs at the closing ceremony, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resource Development, Tijjani Abe, reaffirmed the Service's commitment to strengthening Post Clearance Audit as a modern control mechanism for promoting voluntary compliance, facilitating legitimate trade, and safeguarding government revenue. He noted that effective customs administration requires intelligence-driven, risk-based, and internationally compliant PCA systems. ‎ ‎ "The true measure of success will not be the completion of this programme, but ...

‎REPORTERS' DIARY: How Lagos State Task Force Made Me 'Igbobi Landlord' For Filming Operatives Extorting Suspected 'Okada' Operators In Apapa‎

  ‎By OBIAJULU AGU ‎ ‎ The National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi Lagos (NOHIL) occupies more than enough land space along the Igbobi section of the arterial Ikorodu Road that it is rightfully referred to simply as Igbobi. ‎ ‎Established in 1945, NOHIL's standing as a centre of excellence near and far has also served to consolidate its recognition. With commercial motorcycles operations gaining ascendancy in Nigeria's transportation system, there has emerged the popular coinage "Igbo landlord" in street lingo, notably in Lagos, referring to the upsurge in the admission at NOHIL of victims of road accidents involving motorcycles. In the often chaotic traffic situation of Lagos, "Igbobi landlord" is an insult routinely and mostly hurled by commercial bus drivers in consternation at the presumably reckless motorcyclists weaving in and out traffic delivering their fares to their destinations in quick time. Ironically, even motorcyclists frequently exchange t...

Customs, American Business Council Deepen Trade Collaboration‎

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the American Business Council (ABC) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade relations and addressing bottlenecks affecting business operations through sustained public-private sector engagement. ‎ ‎The resolution was reached during the quarterly meeting held on 16 June 2026 at the Service Headquarters in Abuja, where discussions centred on improving trade facilitation, enhancing security, and promoting stronger economic ties between Nigeria and the United States. ‎ ‎ Speaking during the meeting, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi stressed the importance of regular consultations with stakeholders, noting that the engagement would be institutionalised as a permanent feature of the Service's calendar. ‎ ‎"It is our intention that we institutionalise this as a permanent feature of the Customs calendar because of the importance we attach to this kind of engagement," Adeniyi said. ‎ ‎ CGC ...

Customs Moves to Protect Local Industry, Seizes Smuggled Vegetable Oil Worth ₦403.5m ‎

In a major anti-smuggling operation by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)  Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, over 3,310 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil were seized with a Duty Paid Value of ₦403.5 million, dealing a significant blow to illicit trade networks. ‎At a press briefing on Monday, 15 June 2026, in Owerri, Imo State, by the unit head, Comptroller of Customs, Bishir Balogun, the seizure followed strategic intelligence coordination and sustained enforcement efforts by the Unit's officers. ‎ ‎ According to him, the seized items comprise 3,310 jerrycans of 25-litre “Super Delicious” vegetable oil, 10 jerrycans of 10-litre “Super Delicious” vegetable oil, 20 cartons of 5-litre sunflower vegetable oil, and 20 cartons of 3-litre sunflower vegetable oil. ‎ ‎He disclosed that operatives intercepted one of the trucks at about 10pm on 9 May 2026 along the 9th Mile axis in Enugu State, while another was apprehended on 7 June 2026 along the Onitsha–Agbor Highway following...

GMW: Polaris Bank Deepens Youth Financial Literacy Drive, Trains Students in Katsina‎

Polaris    Bank Financial Literacy Session at Community Day Secondary School, Tsaski Yan’albasa, Charanchi LGA, Katsina State, during Global Money Week 2026. As part of its ongoing commitment to youth empowerment, financial inclusion and building a financially responsible generation, Polaris Bank Limited held an impactful Financial Literacy Day session at Community Day Secondary School, Tsaski Yan’albasa, Charanchi Local Government Area of Katsina State. The event, which took place on June 9, 2026, formed part of the Bank’s activities to commemorate Global Money Week (GMW).  The interactive session reached and impacted 90 students and 10 teachers, providing practical insights into savings, budgeting, responsible spending, banking essentials, financial goal-setting, peer influence and informed decision-making from an early age. ‎ It forms part of Polaris Bank’s sustained participation in Global Money Week, a global campaign that equips pupils and young people with know...

CUSTOMS, POLICE STRENGTHEN SECURITY SYNERGY IN KOGI STATE‎

The Nigeria Customs Service has continued to synergies with other security agencies to strengthen security in the country as the Customs Area Comptroller, Niger/Kogi Area Command, Comptroller Muhammad Sani Umar, mni, on 16th June 2026, paid a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Command, CP Naziru Bello Kankarofi, psc, mni, at the Police Headquarters in Lokoja. ‎ ‎The visit, according to a press release issued by the Public Relations Officer of the command, ASC 1 Abubakar Abdulkareem Zakariya on behalf of the Customs Area Controller, which was marked by warmth and mutual respect, underscored the strong and existing collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Police Force in Kogi State. ‎ ‎ In his remarks, Comptroller Umar expressed deep appreciation for the warm reception accorded to him and his entourage. He noted that the visit was aimed at further strengthening the already cordial relationship between both agencies. He emphasized the ...

Intelligence-Led Operations: Apapa Customs Intercepts 1.8tonnes of Cannabis ‎...seizes Expired Pharmaceuticals‎

Following series of intelligence led operations by the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the command recorded yet another significant breakthrough in its sustained fight against transnational organized crime, illicit trade, threats to national security and public health. ‎ ‎The command, under the able leadership of Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba , while acting on credible, actionable intelligence and utilizing advanced risk assessment tools, officers of the Command in collaboration with the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on Monday, 15th June 2026 at about 1200hrs successfully intercepted 1 x 40FT container with number CAAU 7569127 conveying a large consignment of Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as “Canadian Loud.” The operation also led to the recovery of 3,639 sachets of the illicit substance, with each sachet weighing 500 grams. This brings the total weight to approximately 1,819 kilograms (1.81 tonnes). Preliminary field tests conducted on the...

NPA Musters Stakeholders to Curb Lekki Deep Seaport Gridlock‎

The Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, is currently mustering stakeholders operating along the Lekki Deep Seaport, Lagos corridor to evolve measures to curb the worsening gridlock on the port access road. ‎ ‎ ‎The Management of the NPA in conjunction with the stakeholders recently resolved that the practice whereby trucks are parked  indiscriminately on the road by truck drivers would no longer be tolerated. ‎ ‎The Lekki Port corridor serves as a major artery to Nigeria’s growing maritime and industrial activities, as many of the country’s industrial complexes and Free Trade Zones FTZ, are located in the area. ‎ ‎The duo agreed that the indiscriminate parking of trucks on the driveway must be checked as part of measures to eliminate the gridlock that has plagued the access roads leading to the multi- billion- dollar Lekki Deep Sea Port and other industrial complexes including the Dangote Refinery, among several others located in the area. ‎ ‎This is one of the resolutio...

Customs, Others Seizes Elephant Tusks Worth N126.4m, Arrests Four Suspects In Ogun State‎

‎ Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), have intercepted 22 pieces of Elephant tusks worth N126, 390,440.00 , 4 male suspects and a vehicle. ‎ ‎According to the Customs FOU Zone A Public Relations Officer, Hussaini Abdullahi who disclosed this in a press release on 14th June, 2026, the operation which followed weeks of  intelligence gathering, surveillance and investigation, led to the interception of the tusks and the arrest of the suspects at Ofada, Mowe in Ogun State, while additional targets were apprehended simultaneously in Lagos. ‎ ‎Speaking on the development, the controller of FOU Zone A,  Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, described the seizure as a significant milestone in the fight against wildlife crime and a demonstration of the unit’s commitment to implementing the provisions of the Conventi...

COMPTROLLER ANANI SETS AGENDA FOR COMPLIANCE, TRADE FACILITATION AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

The Customs Area Controller, Tincan Island Port Command, Comptroller Joseph Anani, has commenced his stewardship of the Command with a series of strategic engagements, inspections and courtesy visits aimed at strengthening operational efficiency, fostering stakeholder confidence and enhancing inter-agency collaboration. ‎ ‎As part of his familiarisation tour, Comptroller Anani conducted an extensive inspection of Customs formations and terminals within the Command to obtain first-hand knowledge of available facilities, assess officers' working conditions and evaluate the overall operational environment. The inspection which signaled his first assignment was aimed at improving workplace standards and ensuring that officers are adequately positioned to deliver on the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service. ‎ ‎In his maiden stakeholder engagement, according to a release by the publice Relations Ofgicer of the command, Chief Superintendent of Custom CSC Oscar Ivara, the Comptroll...

Access Holdings Reaffirms Long-Term Value Strategy at 4th AGM

A ccess Holdings Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to long-term value creation, financial resilience and disciplined growth, assuring shareholders that its strategic focus remains firmly on building a stronger and more sustainable institution despite a challenging operating environment. ‎ ‎Speaking at the Group's 4th Annual General Meeting (AGM), Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said the true measure of a financial institution is not simply its ability to grow but its ability to do so profitably, sustainably and with discipline over time. ‎ ‎He said the Group's 2025 performance reflected a deliberate strategy to strengthen its long-term fundamentals while maintaining solid financial results. ‎ ‎Access Holdings reported a Profit Before Tax of ₦1.007 trillion, supported by the strength of its diversified business model and expanding earnings across key markets. Total assets rose to ₦51.56 trillion while customer deposits recorded strong growth, reinforcing the confidenc...

Customs Unveils Special Operations Against Vegetable Oil Smuggling to Protect Local Investments‎

T he Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified efforts to combat the smuggling of vegetable oil into the country, with plans to launch intelligence-driven special operations aimed at protecting local investments, preserving jobs and supporting the growth of the agricultural value chain. ‎ ‎The Comptroller-General of Customs, (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, according to a statement issued by the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, stated  this on Friday, 5 June 2026, during a meeting with stakeholders in the vegetable oil industry at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja. ‎ ‎ Adeniyi said the Service remains committed to tackling smuggling through strategic enforcement, intelligence gathering, and stakeholder collaboration. He noted that Customs and operators in the vegetable oil sector share a common objective of protecting legitimate businesses, encouraging investment, and strengthening the national economy. ‎ ‎ CGC Ade...