The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has responded to allegations made by investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo, who claimed that customs officers were colluding with smugglers to bring large consignments of rice into Nigeria from Benin Republic.
In an exclusive interview with this reporter on Monday, Abdullahi Maiwada, the national public relations officer of the NCS, dismissed Soyombo’s claims as “cheap blackmail.”
Soyombo had alleged on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that, on Sunday night, more than 130,000 kilograms of rice were smuggled across the Ogun State border under the supervision of certain customs officers.
He said the illegal operation was slated to take place on Sunday, November 10, 2024.
The journalist wrote: “All is set. Your men, working with Adeyemi Habeeb Abdulganiy, the multi billionaire-smuggler better known as Abuga, are primed to pass more than 2,000 cars containing at least 65 bags of rice each from Bebe in the Benin Republic into Sango, Nigeria.
“Some of these cars will enter Sango from the toll gate by driving against traffic, consequently endangering lives, while some will gain entry into Sango through Ifo; others will use the Oju-Ore-Ota route.
“Road users in Sango can expect traffic congestion early tomorrow morning unless this post prompts an about-face from the actors. I understand as well that soldiers from the 192 battalion at Owode will be patrolling during the journey to prevent any resistance.
According to Soyombo, the rice was set to be transported in over 2,000 cars, each carrying approximately 65 bags of rice, from Bebe in Benin Republic into Sango, Ogun State.
Soyombo also claimed that some of the vehicles involved in the operation would enter Sango from the toll gate by driving against traffic, posing a risk to other road users. He further alleged that other vehicles would reach Sango through routes in Ifo and Oju-Ore-Ota, apparently with the knowledge or assistance of customs officers.
Responding to the allegations, Maiwada questioned the motives behind Soyombo’s post, suggesting that the journalist might have been acting prematurely. “Why could he not wait for the crime to be committed before shouting wolves where there is none?” Maiwada said, emphasizing that the NCS is fully committed to combating smuggling. He further assured that customs officers are “ever ready to suppress smuggling activities to the barest minimum and will not relent in doing so.”
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Maiwada also addressed what he referred to as “disgruntled and/or sponsored” individuals, accusing them of masquerading as concerned citizens but allegedly attempting to divert the attention of customs officers for ulterior purposes.
Speaking further in a statement made available to NaijaTimesUSA, the customs official said: “The various units and formations of the Nigeria Customs Service are ever ready to suppress smuggling activities to the barest minimum and will not relent in doing so.
“The service is equally aware of disgruntled and/or sponsored individuals masquerading as good Samaritans but with the aim of diverting the attention of officers to achieve ulterior motive.
“Sometimes aiding the activities of ‘factional’ smuggling gang themselves. Unfortunately, I can’t share the service’s active intelligence with you, but I assure you, we are ahead of them and fully prepared to deal decisively with smugglers and their cohorts in line with our laws.
“By the way, the writer needs to revisit his arithmetic classes. 2,000 vehicles carrying 65 bags of 50 Kg each will be about six million and five hundred Thousand (6,500,000) Kilograms and not 130,000Kg. But his 130,000Kg can be carried by 40 vehicles carrying 65 bags of 50kg each.”
While Maiwada could not divulge specific details about the NCS’s “active intelligence” operations, he reassured the public that customs officers were prepared to take decisive action against any smuggling operations and their collaborators, in line with Nigerian laws. He emphasized that the NCS is “already a step ahead” in its intelligence operations to curb smuggling activities.
As of Monday, Soyombo did not provide further details or evidence to support his allegations.
