Nigeria Customs Service intercepted five trucks containing 2,800 bags of smuggled foreign rice valued at N919.5 million at Seme border, demonstrating continued enforcement of agricultural protection policies supporting local farmers and food security objectives.
Seme Area Command Controller Dr. Benedict Oramalugo revealed the seizures occurred between July 1-19 following intelligence operations along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, with recovered contraband including foreign parboiled rice and second-hand clothing affecting legitimate trade revenues.
The comprehensive anti-smuggling operation recovered 4,119 bags of foreign rice between May and June, alongside various contraband items totaling N1.27 billion in Duty Paid Value, supporting Nigeria’s rice import substitution strategy and local production initiatives.
“Nigeria remains Africa’s leading rice producer with over 8 million metric tonnes annually, surpassing Egypt and Tanzania, yet local mills continue suffering from low patronage due to smuggling activities,” Oramalugo explained during the press briefing.
Economic analysts estimate rice smuggling costs Nigeria approximately N2.5 trillion annually in lost agricultural investment, reduced farmer incomes, and undermined food processing industry development across rice-producing states including Kebbi, Niger, and Ebonyi.
The command generated N1.59 billion in legitimate revenue during May-June 2025 through strong anti-leakage measures, while facilitating 1,837 export trucks carrying over 116,723 metric tonnes of goods worth N22.37 billion in Free on Board value.
Dr. Oramalugo emphasized the Federal Government’s land border rice import ban aims to support over 12 million farming households while encouraging value-added processing investments that create employment across agricultural value chains.
Recent allocation of 12 patrol vehicles has significantly enhanced border surveillance capabilities and operational efficiency, with military and security agency collaboration strengthening enforcement of fiscal policies protecting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.
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