The House of Representatives Committees on Customs and Excise, alongside that of Defence, are to jointly investigate the operations and activities of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at the nation’s borders over alleged complicity in aiding smuggling and involvement in brutality against Nigerians.
The committees will examine the role of military personnel attached to Customs patrols, ensuring their operations comply with legal frameworks and human rights standards.
The House took the decision after adopting a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Sesi Whingan at plenary.
Quoting Section 4 (b, e, and f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, Whingan said the NCS has the responsibility to collect revenue, prevent smuggling and secure Nigeria’s borders.
Rather than prevent smuggling, the lawmakers said recent reports showed that personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service across the borders were aiding and abetting smuggling.
Refering to a November 18, 2024, Whingan talked of a mass smuggling of over 2,000 cars carrying 6,500,000kg of rice through Badagry, allegedly under the watch of Customs officers.
He also said videos published by an investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, showed proof of complicity by Customs officers in these illegal activities, adding that men of the Customs have been accused of brutality against citizens who tried to document and expose their illegal activities.
According to him, the reports of brutality have emerged, including an incident along the Badagry-Seme Expressway on December 1, 2024, where officers from the Customs Service, in collaboration with soldiers, allegedly assaulted two transporters, Taofeek Olatunbosun and Rafiu Abdelmalik.
“The victims were suspected of documenting smuggling activities, leading to threats against their lives and a standoff that required intervention from residents and police”, he said.
Continuing, the lawmaker said that smuggling has severe economic consequences, including undermining local industries, reducing government revenues, promoting unfair trade practices, and flooding markets with substandard and potentially harmful products.
He said the actions of the Customs Service officer run contrary to its core mandate, erode public trust and raise concerns about the oversight of joint security operations involving military personnel.
The lawmaker said despite the presence of multiple checkpoints during the day, particularly in Badagry and other border communities in the nation, economic activities and legitimate trade are paralysed by excessive scrutiny and alleged extortion by Customs officers and other law enforcement personnel.
“At night, these same officers reportedly enable or turn a blind eye to rampant smuggling activities, undermining public trust and perpetuating economic hardship.”
He said this has affected small businesses such as rice farmers and poultry producers who are unable to compete with the influx of contraband goods, leading to job losses and impoverishment.
Besides, the lawmaker lamented that “the erosion of law and order in border regions like Badagry threatens community stability, leaving citizens vulnerable and disillusioned.”
The house mandated the committees to recommend appropriate measures to enhance oversight, accountability, and efficiency within the Customs Service to restore public trust and safeguard Nigeria’s economic and national security interests.
They are also to report back within six weeks for further legislative actions.
