Trending 
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted 20 diverted transit containers worth more than ₦769 million in the northern part of the country, as authorities step up efforts to “curb cargo diversion and protect government revenue”.
NCS, in a statement released on Sunday, said the seizures were made across the Kano–Jigawa corridor following intelligence-led operations carried out between the second and fourth quarters of 2025.
Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi told reporters in Kano that cargo diversion posed a serious threat to government revenue, national security, and Nigeria’s credibility within the global trading system.
“Cargo diversion is a grave offence that undermines government revenue, compromises national security, and damages Nigeria’s standing in international commerce. The Nigeria Customs Service will not hesitate to deploy all lawful measures to detect, deter, and punish offenders,” Adeniyi stated.
Adeniyi said the containers held a range of goods, including vitrified tiles diverted from the Kano Free Trade Zone valued at ₦228.6 million, diesel engine oil, polyester materials, used clothing, fabrics, medical consumables, and Zamzam bottled water.
“Some of the items are classified as prohibited imports under the Common External Tariff (CET) regulations.”
Adeniyi also revealed that two containers of medical supplies were forfeited to the Federal Government as a result of a ruling made by the Federal High Court, Kano Division, on December 10, 2025, while one container is still being held pending the resolution of legal proceedings.
He also confirmed the arrest, prosecution, and conviction of Abdulrahman Sani Adam for the offence of container diversion.
According to Adeniyi, the sentence of three years in prison with the possibility of a ₦3 million fine is a powerful deterrent to future infractions.
The Comptroller-General announced the near-nationwide deployment of electronic container tracking devices, noting that the system enables real-time monitoring, route compliance, and tamper alerts from ports to inland destinations.
