The Nigeria Customs Service has intensified its crackdown on cargo diversion, seizing 20 illegally diverted transit containers valued at over ₦769 million across Kano and Jigawa States.

The seizures, recorded between the second and fourth quarters of 2025, were carried out by the Kano/Jigawa Area Command as part of ongoing enforcement operations aimed at protecting government revenue and safeguarding trade procedures.

Speaking at a press briefing in Kano on Friday, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the containers were originally meant for inland terminals and Free Trade Zones but were unlawfully diverted in breach of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.

According to him, the practice of diverting transit containers poses serious economic and security risks, including revenue losses for the government and unfair competition in the market. He stressed that Customs would not tolerate any abuse of the transit system.

The seized containers were found to contain a wide range of goods, including vitrified tiles, diesel engine oil, polyester materials, used clothing, printed and lace fabrics, medical consumables and prohibited Zamzam bottled water. The Duty Paid Value of the seized items was put at ₦769.53 million.

Adeniyi disclosed that two containers carrying medical items had already been forfeited to the Federal Government following a Federal High Court judgment delivered on December 10, 2025. Another container loaded with printed fabrics, valued at ₦75 million, is currently under detention while legal processes continue.

He also revealed that one suspect, Abdulrahman Sani Adam, had been convicted for container diversion and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦3 million fine. The Customs boss warned that anyone found involved in similar offences, including complicit officials, would face prosecution, forfeiture of goods, and strict sanctions.

As part of preventive measures, Adeniyi said the Service is deploying electronic tracking devices nationwide to closely monitor the movement of containers and curb future diversion.

He urged importers, freight forwarders, and other stakeholders to comply strictly with Customs transit regulations, noting that while the Service remains committed to trade facilitation, it maintains zero tolerance for smuggling and illegal diversion.

Kano, regarded as the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria, remains a major transit route for goods due to its strategic location and proximity to international borders, making enforcement efforts in the area especially critical.