The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have renewed their commitment to closer collaboration in tackling security threats, as Customs intensifies efforts to crack down on the smuggling of vegetable oil and other illicit goods across the country.
The twin commitments were highlighted on Wednesday during separate engagements at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, where the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi, hosted the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and later met with stakeholders in the vegetable oil industry.
During the strategic meeting with the Police leadership, Adeniyi congratulated Disu on his appointment and stressed the importance of stronger inter-agency cooperation in addressing emerging security challenges and safeguarding national interests.
He reaffirmed the Service’s support for the Police in efforts to restore peace and security nationwide, noting that sustained collaboration would enhance intelligence sharing, operational effectiveness and coordinated responses to criminal activities.
“The NCS stands with the NPF in these challenging times. We will continue to support efforts aimed at restoring peace and security across the country. Together, we can strengthen the safety and stability of our nation,” he said.
In response, the Inspector-General described the visit as an opportunity to reinforce the longstanding partnership between both agencies and deepen cooperation among their personnel.
“The purpose of this visit is to deepen our relationship and reaffirm that you have a reliable partner in the NPF. Sustained collaboration among our personnel will enhance our collective efforts in addressing security challenges,” Disu said.
As part of broader efforts to protect the economy and strengthen border security, the NCS also announced plans to launch intelligence-driven special operations targeting the smuggling of vegetable oil into the country.
Speaking during a meeting with industry stakeholders, Adeniyi said the Service remained committed to combating smuggling through strategic enforcement, intelligence gathering and stronger engagement with the private sector.
He noted that Customs and operators in the vegetable oil industry share a common goal of protecting legitimate businesses, encouraging investment and preserving jobs across the agricultural value chain.
“Fighting smuggling is a continuous process that requires intelligence, policy support and collaboration. We value constructive engagement with stakeholders and will continue to strengthen our partnership with the private sector,” he said.
The Comptroller-General called on stakeholders to support enforcement efforts by providing credible intelligence on smuggling routes and illicit trade networks, stressing that tackling the menace requires sustained cooperation between government agencies and industry players.
Providing an update on enforcement activities, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, Timi Bomodi, revealed that the Service had recorded significant successes in curbing the illegal importation of vegetable oil products.
According to him, Customs intercepted 65 consignments of smuggled vegetable oil products in 2025 and a further 23 seizures in 2026, with a combined Duty Paid Value of about N1.314 billion.
Bomodi said many of the seizures were made along major smuggling corridors, including Seme and Idiroko, adding that surveillance operations would be intensified across other vulnerable border locations.
Leading the industry delegation, Founder of the Plantation Owners Forum of Nigeria, Fatai Afolabi, commended Customs for engaging stakeholders and urged the Service to sustain its crackdown on smugglers.
He warned that the continued influx of smuggled vegetable oil was undermining local production, discouraging investment and threatening thousands of jobs across the value chain.