Kano/Jigawa Customs Generates ₦63.08bn in Six Months, Seizes Contraband Worth ₦1.71bn

The Kano/Jigawa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) generated ₦63.08 billion in revenue between January and June 2026, recording a 7.4 per cent increase over the ₦58.39 billion collected during the corresponding period in 2025.

The Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Usman Adamu, disclosed this while presenting the command's half year operational report during a media briefing at the command headquarters in Bompai, Kano.

Adamu said the command realised a total revenue of ₦63,078,655,523.44 within the six month period, representing an increase of ₦4.69 billion despite a decline in cargo throughput.

He attributed the impressive performance to strategic reforms introduced by the service, noting that the Kano Free Trade Zone alone generated more than ₦26 billion in the first half of 2026, exceeding its total revenue for the entire 2025 financial year by about ₦4 billion.

The acting controller further disclosed that the command recovered approximately ₦3 billion through the detection of abuses in transit procedures, describing the achievement as a reflection of strengthened compliance and monitoring mechanisms.

On anti smuggling operations, Adamu said intelligence-led enforcement activities carried out in collaboration with other security agencies resulted in the seizure of prohibited and restricted goods with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦1.71 billion.

Items intercepted included unregistered pharmaceuticals such as tramadol and pregabalin, four air pistols imported in contravention of the Firearms Act, elephant tusks, over 2,000 containers of 25-litre foreign-packaged vegetable oil, military uniforms and accoutrements, smuggled vehicles, foreign rice, spaghetti and macaroni, counterfeit agrochemical packaging materials, an RX drone camera imported without the required End User Certificate, and 14 diverted transit containers.

According to him, 22 suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures. While some of the suspects have been handed over to relevant security and regulatory agencies for further investigation, others were granted administrative bail in line with extant procedures.

Adamu also revealed that officers of the command intercepted undeclared foreign currencies and negotiable instruments at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in violation of the Anti-Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The seized currencies comprised 568,100 United States dollars, 134,256 Saudi riyals, 28 Chinese yuan, and 20 Ghana cedis, alongside 35 kilograms of silver bars valued at approximately ₦175 million.

He said the interception demonstrated the command's commitment to combating illicit financial flows and protecting the integrity of Nigeria's financial system.

The acting controller credited the command's achievements to reforms implemented by the Nigeria Customs Service, including the deployment of an end-to-end transit monitoring system, streamlined revenue collection processes, intelligence-driven surveillance operations, improved cargo clearance procedures, enhanced monitoring of the Kano Free Trade Zone, regular stakeholder engagement, and a real-time revenue monitoring dashboard.

Adamu commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management of the service for providing strategic leadership and driving reforms that enhanced the command's operational efficiency.

He also expressed appreciation to other security agencies, stakeholders and the media for their continued support, urging traders and members of the public to comply with government fiscal and trade policies.

He assured that the Kano/Jigawa Area Command would sustain intelligence-driven operations and deepen collaboration with stakeholders to facilitate legitimate trade, suppress smuggling activities and boost revenue generation in the second half of 2026.