The Nigeria Customs Service, Kwara Area Command, has generated ₦3.8 billion in revenue in the first quarter of 2026 despite the continued closure of Nigeria’s border with the Republic of Benin.

The Acting Area Controller of the command, Deputy Comptroller Najeem Ogundeyi, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing held in Ilorin, Kwara State.

He said the command recorded a total revenue of ₦3,895,333,182.94 between January and March 2026, attributing the performance to excise duties and intensified anti-smuggling operations.

Ogundeyi noted that the command also achieved significant success in its crackdown on smuggling activities across several flashpoints within Kwara and neighbouring areas.

He listed key surveillance routes used by smugglers to include Bukuro, Gurumi, Sikira, Okuta, Boriya, Tewu, Bero, Sango, Okeoyi, Alapa, Malete, Bani, Offa, Idofian, Eiyenkorin, and the Lagos–Ilorin Expressway.

“These areas have remained under close watch due to their strategic use by smugglers attempting illegal trade and smuggling of uncustomed goods,” he said.

According to him, operatives intercepted several contraband items including foreign parboiled rice, second-hand tyres, vegetable oil, macaroni pasta, Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), cannabis, tramadol, corrosive chemicals, and used clothing.

He stated that the total Duty Paid Value of the seized items was ₦204,763,439, adding that the seizures reflect the service’s commitment to protecting national revenue.

Ogundeyi commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for his leadership and support in strengthening enforcement operations.

He also praised sister security agencies for their collaboration, noting that intelligence-driven operations and improved coordination had enhanced performance.

The Customs boss further urged border communities to provide credible intelligence to assist anti-smuggling efforts, warning that those involved in illegal trade would face the full weight of the law.

He reaffirmed that the Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s economy through sustained surveillance, enforcement, and prosecution of offenders.