The House of Representatives Wednesday decided to investigate the operations and activities of the Nigerian Customs Service across Nigeria’s borders, with a specific focus on smuggling activities, allegations of complicity, and incidents of brutality.
The decision of the House followed the adoption of a motion moved at the plenary on Wednesday by Sesi Whingan.
Presenting the motion, he said by virtue of Section 4 (b, e, and f) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, Customs is mandated to collect revenue, prevent smuggling and customs fraud, and ensure the security of Nigeria’s borders.
He said reports of brutality have emerged, including an incident along the Badagry-Seme expressway on December 1, 2024, where officers from the Customs in collaboration with soldiers, violently assaulted two transporters, Taofeek Olatunbosun and Rafiu Abdelmalik.
Whingan stressed that the victims were suspected of documenting smuggling activities, leading to threats against their lives and a standoff that required intervention from residents and police.
The lawmaker explained that smuggling has severe economic consequences, including undermining local industries, reducing government revenue, promoting unfair trade practices, and flooding markets with substandard and potentially harmful products.
