The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command, has intercepted two 40-foot containers loaded with expired pharmaceutical products with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N130 million.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Eghosa Edelduok, disclosed this during a media briefing held in Lagos over the weekend. The briefing was aimed at reviewing the performance of the Command for the first half of 2025.
According to Edelduok, the seizure was made by the Command’s enforcement team during routine anti-smuggling operations, in line with ongoing efforts to clamp down on the importation of dangerous and illegal goods.
The containers, bearing numbers HLBU 1067338 and HLBU 2239792, were found to contain large quantities of expired drugs that had already passed their safe usage dates. These items, she explained, were in clear violation of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, as well as other existing import regulations governing pharmaceutical products.
“These expired pharmaceutical products pose a serious risk to public health and safety,” Edelduok said. “We have handed over the intercepted containers to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for appropriate investigation and action. Our Command has zero tolerance for such infractions, and we are committed to protecting Nigerians from harmful imports.”
The interception has drawn praise from public health advocates who have raised concerns over the increasing cases of counterfeit and expired medicines entering Nigerian markets, often through irregular import channels. The Customs’ action is seen as a major win in the fight against unsafe pharmaceutical imports.
Beyond seizures, Comptroller Edelduok also shared impressive revenue figures for the Command. According to her, the KLT Command generated a total of N89.2 billion between January and June 2025. This marks a 63 percent increase compared to the N54.8 billion collected during the same period in 2024.
She attributed this growth to several key factors, including improved operational strategies, better enforcement methods, and stronger collaboration with stakeholders.
“This remarkable increase of N34.4 billion in revenue reflects our improved efficiency, focused reforms, and the growing compliance levels among our stakeholders,” she said. “It is a result of strategic planning, staff dedication, and continuous engagement with port users.”
Edelduok noted that the Command had implemented targeted enforcement strategies, technology-driven procedures, and stakeholder education to enhance trade compliance and discourage smuggling.
While praising the efforts of her officers and men, she also stressed the importance of teamwork with other government agencies and the private sector. She said their collective efforts were essential in achieving the dual goals of trade facilitation and national security.
“We remain committed to professionalism, accountability, and transparency in all our operations,” she declared. “Our goal is not just to generate revenue, but also to contribute meaningfully to national development and the safety of our citizens.”
The seizure of the expired drugs highlights an ongoing concern in Nigeria about the influx of substandard and unsafe medical products. Expired drugs can cause severe harm to patients, including treatment failure, poisoning, or even death. This has made regulatory vigilance a key issue in the country’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), NDLEA, and the Nigeria Customs Service are some of the key bodies responsible for ensuring that only safe and approved medicines are imported, sold, and consumed in Nigeria.
In recent years, the Nigerian government has increased efforts to strengthen border control and tighten checks at ports to prevent illegal goods from entering the country. However, smuggling and fraudulent declarations by importers remain a challenge.
The Customs Service, under the leadership of Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, has prioritised intelligence-based enforcement, automation of processes, and collaboration with sister agencies as part of broader reforms.
Comptroller Edelduok expressed confidence that with continued support from stakeholders and the public, the KLT Command would continue to perform its duties efficiently and uphold the trust placed in it by the Nigerian people.
She concluded by commending the cooperation received from various agencies and stakeholders, which she said was vital to the effective discharge of the Command’s responsibilities.
“Our achievements so far are a reflection of what is possible when we all work together for the good of our country,” she said.
