Nigeria Customs Service cites insecurity and denies smuggling allegations

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reported that widespread insecurity is negatively impacting revenue generation, particularly in the North-West region. Nsikak Patrick Umoh, Assistant Comptroller-General and Zonal Coordinator for Zone B, stated that security threats in states including Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, and Zamfara have forced officers to adopt more cautious, intelligence-based operating methods. This shift, along with the physical risks to personnel, has led to reduced revenue collections in several commands.

Separately, the NCS has dismissed allegations regarding increased smuggling, revenue leakage, and recruitment impropriety. National Public Relations Officer Abdullahi Maiwada characterized these claims as a misrepresentation of the service's operations. Addressing reports of smuggling along specific corridors and the use of the 846 valuation code, Maiwada clarified that the 846 code is a legitimate digital tool for vehicles with non-standard identification numbers. He noted that revenue collections at major ports have reached historic levels under the current digital framework.