Brands/Products
Customs Loses 70 Officers To Smugglers
No fewer than 70 personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service were lost within seven months while on duty.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a recent interview.
He also said the Service has opened collaboration with their counterparts in the Republic of Benin to facilitate trade and resolve bottlenecks affecting transhipment of goods into Cotonou.
“Customs is here to see and find solutions to the challenges hindering the smooth operations of Nigerian business operators who engage in inter-border trade and transhipment of goods from Nigeria to Republic of Benin.
“Nigeria Customs had lost 70 Customs officers between January 2016 till date while performing their duties to stop the activities of smuggling of some products such as rice, poultry products, rice and so on.
“We have made it real to visit Benin Customs and discuss on the rudiments hindering our operations.
“I believe our dialogue will bring out solutions because both countries are interdependent and this why there should be symbolic mutual relationship between them,” said Ali.
He further noted that there was the need for a level playing ground for the Nigeria Customs Service and the Beninoire Customs due to the nature of their operations as well as the law governing the ECOWAS Trade Liberation Scheme.
Ali told NAN that customs was having serious challenges with Nigerian border operators and importers because they still engaged in prohibited goods in spite of (Customs and Excise Management Act) CEMA law and ETLS, which governed both the Customs and stakeholders operations.
“When operators know that there are some certain goods that are prohibited, they still try to bring them into the country,” Ali added.
He said compliant was key to the Nigeria Customs Service, adding that it was Customs duty in making sure stakeholders operate in a conducive environment for smooth operations to enable customs to get more revenue due for government.
NAN reports that the law relating to Customs agents is contained in the CEMA Cap 45, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and the Customs and Excise Agents (Licensing) Regulations 1968 (Legal Notice 95/1968 as amended).
In his response, the Director-General, Republic of Benin Customs, Claver Tossou, said there was the need for the country to solidify the relationship between Benin and Nigeria to facilitate legitimate trade both countries.
Tossou said the coming of NCS was a right step in good direction, adding that the visit would enable them iron out the challenges and find lasting solutions to facilitate trade and protection of security among the operators.
He said that there was the need to protect the customs laws, symbol and the principles and to establish long lasting cooperation between both countries.
At the interactive session on August 3, the President of Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents, Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, said his member faced a lot of challenges while operating between Seme and Idiroko area of Lagos State.
Shittu said ANLCA as Customs Brokers operate at land borders, adding that the association was one of the major players operating between Nigeria and Benin.
He said Nigerian importers incurred on plate numbered vehicles 60,000 CFA, while Benin Republic plate-numbered vehicle importer paid 20,000 CFA per extra tonnage respectively.
Shittu urged the Chef Brigade at Krake Border to delegate his deputy in the command when he is not around for trade facilitation.
He requested that Customs should seal trucks coming to Nigeria and should be handed over to Nigeria Customs to open at the border for proper documentation rather than being opened by the Benin Customs to avoid collection of extra charges of 50,000 CFA, which added to cost of business.
Shittu said: “Customs should assist in mentioning the obligatory payment of between 30,000 to 50,000CFA for NAFDAC related goods which was questionable.
“Agents are not aware that such trucks will not be allowed into the country.
“Customs should assist in checking the cost of transiting ETLS goods from Ghana to Lagos so that Nigeria could provide more enhancement of trade facilitation and competition in West Africa sub region.”
Shittu urged Ali to look into the multiple checkpoints along Seme border to Mile 2 in Lagos State, saying that there is an estimate of 30 checkpoints mounted by Customs and other security agencies.
The Deputy President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Chief Alaba Lawson, said there was the need to facilitate trade, adding that Customs should enable the operators to know the legitimate trade they would be doing to reduce cost of doing business.
Lawson said there was the need for both countries to firm their relationship, adding that trade should be facilitated.
He said: “When we are entering Benin at the Nigerian border, we spent 30 minutes and on getting to Republic of Benin’s border we spent four hours.
“We are still encountering stress while the ECOWAS ETLS has explained the procedures of operation among regional countries.”
Lawan, however, urged NCS to strengthen the collaboration between both countries.
The President of the Rice Dealers Association, Republic of Benin, Hajia Karamotu Ibikunle, urged the NCS to make it possible for her association to bring rice to Nigeria through the border station.
Ibikunle told the Comptroller-General of Customs to enlighten her association on how to get rice to Nigeria to assist Customs in generating revenue for government.
In his response, Ali said that Customs could only instruct it’s officers, adding that he had been engaging other security agencies to reduce the checkpoints to the barest minimum.
Ali said the Federal Government was doing something about high exchange rate, adding that the floating in exchange rate had resulted to high foreign exchange.
He said: “We have a ban on importation of rice through the land borders because rice still comes through the seaport.
“It is part of our duties to protect the lives of our people and it was discovered that most of the rice coming through border had been tested by NAFDAC and it was discovered majority of the rice have expired and operators re-bagged them to sell to innocent citizens
“As a result of this, that is why we have some youths of 20s and 30s having cancer due to the foods that we eat.”
Ali said the present management of Customs was working towards providing conducive atmosphere for customs officers working along Idiroko area.
Ali said Customs officers at Idiroko were operating in one room during the day, use the same room as office and converted the same room to a residence in the evening.
He said trade was low as a result of exchange rates, which had affected revenue, adding that it was the Customs management’s responsibility to provide conducive environment for officers to carry out their legitimate functions.
NAN.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
MultiChoice Nigeria has commenced a one-month campaign tagged Open Time, offering new and existing subscribers free package upgrades.
A statement from the company disclosed that the promotion runs from June 1 to 30, 2026, and gives eligible DStv and GOtv customers access to higher subscription packages at no additional cost in the month of June.
However, these upgrades are on select DStv or GOtv packages. Subscribers will automatically be upgraded to a higher package at the price of their current subscription for the duration of the offer.
MultiChoice said the upgrade is intended to give subscribers a broader viewing experience for the month, spanning drama, sport, action and children’s programming available on the higher-tier packages.
Customers who pay for DStv Compact Plus or DStv Compact bouquets will be upgraded to DStv Premium, while DStv Confam customers will be upgraded to DStv Compact. DStv Yanga customers will receive access to DStv Confam.
Similarly, GOtv Supa and GOtv Max subscribers will receive access to the GOtv Supa Plus package, while GOtv Jolli subscribers will be upgraded to GOtv Max.
The upgrades will remain active for as long as the customer’s account is fully paid during the campaign period. At the end of the promotion on June 30, subscriptions will revert to their original packages.
Subscribers can renew or activate their accounts via the DStv and GOtv websites, the MyDStv and MyGOtv apps, USSD, banking channels or at payment points nationwide.
Twinkles Beauty has added fringe wigs to its catalogue, bringing one of the most directional styles in contemporary hair fashion to its growing international customer base. The launch positions the brand to meet demand for a look that has moved steadily from editorial runways into everyday wardrobes, earning a permanent place among the styles modern women return to consistently.
The fringe wig delivers something that most other wig styles do not: an instant change to the entire aura of the face. A well-constructed fringe alters the visual proportion of the forehead, draws attention to the eyes, and produces a finish that reads as intentional and precise. Unlike the bone straight wig, which leads with length and sleekness, or the body wave unit, which leads with movement and texture, the fringe wig leads with structure at the very front of the style. It is a design decision that changes everything about how a look is perceived, and it is why the fringe has maintained its relevance across decades of changing fashion without ever feeling dated.
Twinkles Beauty was founded with a clear commercial mandate: make premium human hair accessible to women who have historically been underserved by international pricing structures and inconsistent quality standards. The brand has built its operational foundation across Nigeria & Ghana before extending its delivery network to customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and multiple additional international markets.
Every product in the Twinkles Beauty catalogue, from its frontal wigs to its precision-cut bob units and glueless options designed for everyday wear, is held to the same sourcing and construction standard regardless of the length or style category it falls under.
The fringe wig collection enters that catalogue with the same expectation. Units are constructed from premium human hair, with lace options that blend against a range of skin tones and cap architecture built for secure, comfortable wear. The collection covers multiple length options, meaning a customer who prefers the clean, above-the-shoulder finish of a shorter fringe unit and one who wants the same style at a longer, more dramatic length are both accommodated within the same launch. The fringe detail is consistent across lengths, delivering the defining characteristic of the style at every size available.
The addition reflects a pattern that has defined how Twinkles Beauty has grown its catalogue over time. New collections are introduced in direct response to what the brand’s customer base is purchasing and requesting, not simply in response to broad market trends. This intentional design means the store covers the full range of what a woman shopping for premium human hair actually wants. The collection spans from the ultra-sleek finishes that bone straight and HD lace units provide, to the textured, high-volume options that deep wave and curly units deliver, and now to the sharp, face-framing precision that the fringe collection brings.
Shopping on Twinkles Beauty
The full fringe wig collection is available now at Twinkles Beauty. Placing an order is a straightforward process:
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Customers with questions before or after purchase can reach the Twinkles Beauty support team directly through the Contact Us page. The brand also maintains an active presence on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook for customers who want to see products styled before making a selection.
International customers in the US, Canada, and the UK move through the same checkout process and receive the same delivery standards as customers ordering from within West Africa. Transparent pricing, reliable logistics, and consistent product quality apply across every market Twinkles Beauty serves.
MultiChoice Nigeria, a CANAL+ company, has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration with its dealer network at the MultiChoice Dealer Enterprise 2.0 forum held on Monday in Lagos.
The forum brought together the company’s mega dealers across Nigeria to discuss evolving market realities, customer expectations and new initiatives designed to support long-term business growth.
In her opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of MultiChoice Nigeria, Kemi Omotosho, described dealers as critical partners in the company’s growth journey and customer experience delivery.
“Our dealers remain the bridge between our business and millions of customers across the country. As the market evolves, it is important that our partnership model also evolves to ensure sustainable growth and shared value across the ecosystem,” she said.
The company unveiled enhancements to its dealer engagement across its DStv and GOtv businesses, reinforcing its commitment to supporting dealer profitability, operational growth and long-term sustainability.
Speaking on the initiatives, Chimaobi Eluigwe, Vice President, Sales, MultiChoice Nigeria, said the move reflects MultiChoice Nigeria’s intention to build a stronger and more rewarding partnership while positioning the dealer network for future growth.
“We are intentional about creating opportunities that allow our dealers to grow sustainably with the business. This is about strengthening partnerships, improving value creation and ensuring our dealers remain well-positioned for the future,” he said.
Dealers at the forum welcomed the initiatives, describing them as a positive step toward strengthening collaboration and improving business confidence.
According to Cordelia Ikeanyi, Managing Director at Eastland General Resources, the renewed engagement and enhanced benefits structure demonstrate MultiChoice Nigeria’s commitment to recognising the value dealers bring to the business.
“This is a step in the right direction for dealers. The improved communication and engagement from MultiChoice have made partners feel more valued and included, and the new initiatives will support business expansion and help us explore untapped opportunities,” she said.
Also speaking at the forum, Ifeanyi Onyibo, CEO of Radac Communications Limited, noted that dealers have experienced more engagement and clearer communication in recent months, describing the renewed approach as a positive development for the dealer ecosystem.
“There has been a noticeable improvement in communication and engagement, and initiatives like this give partners greater confidence in the direction of the business,” he said.
The forum also featured a feedback session where dealers shared market insights, customer trends, and recommendations aimed at improving service delivery and strengthening customer experience across the country.
Awards were presented to top-performing dealers in recognition of their sales performance, customer service excellence and commitment to growing the MultiChoice business nationwide.
With the Dealer Enterprise 2.0, MultiChoice Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with dealers to strengthen partnerships, improve collaboration and drive shared growth across the country.
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