Customs records N908m rice smuggling seizures in Q1

…Rice smuggling can’t end overnight—SEREC

By Efe Onodjae

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, recorded a total seizure of 15,212 bags of smuggled rice valued at over N907.78 million in the first quarter of 2026.

Statistics obtained by Vanguard from the Enforcement Investigation and Inspection Department, Enforcement Return and Statistics Unit, of the Customs   showed that the Service recorded 286 rice seizure cases between January and March 2026.

The figures further showed that the Duty Paid Value, DPV, of the seizures stood at N1.38 billion within the three-month period under review.

Further analysis however, indicated fluctuations in monthly seizure figures, with February recording the highest during the quarter.

Specifically, Customs seized 4,027 bags of smuggled rice in January from 64 interception cases. The seizures had a Cost, Insurance and Freight, CIF, value of N244.77 million, while duty payable stood at N97.82 million. The DPV was estimated at N342.58 million.

However, in February, the volume seizures rose by 56.5 per cent, month-on-month, MoM   to 6,301 bags from 127 cases

The February seizures recorded a CIF value of N360.11 million, while duty involved stood at N200.69 million. The DPV for the month was estimated at N560.80 million.

In March, however, the volume   of seizures dropped by 29 per cent, MoM   to 4,884 from 95 cases.

The March seizures had a CIF value of N302.91 million, with duty payable estimated at N169.30 million and DPV standing at N472.21 million.

Speaking to Vanguard on the development, the Head of Research at the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre, SEREC, Eugene Nweke, said rice smuggling in Nigeria cannot be eradicated overnight due to economic realities and rising food demand.

Nweke explained that despite government restrictions and tariffs on rice importation, neighbouring countries continue to benefit from the trade, while smugglers exploit border routes to bring rice into Nigeria.

According to him, local rice production is yet to meet national demand, making smuggling difficult to completely eliminate.

“You can only try to reduce or suppress it. Customs cannot completely eradicate rice smuggling because it is an international issue,” he said.

Nweke urged the Federal Government to review its rice importation policies and sustain long-term investment in local rice farming to reduce dependence on imports.

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