General
Customs Seizes 20,600 Litres of Petrol Worth N112.6m in Adamawa
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Adamawa/Taraba Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its anti-smuggling campaign with a string of major interceptions across multiple border corridors, recovering 20,600 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other goods with a combined Duty Paid Value of N112.6million.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Garba Bashir, made this announcement during a press conference at the Customs House in Yola, where he presented details of the Command’s latest operations aimed at curbing trans-border crimes and protecting public health.
According to him, the seized 20,600 litres of PMS, also known as petrol, were packed in 824 jerrycans of 25-litre capacity each.
The other recovered goods included 91 cartons of expired Tramadol capsules, 54 cartons of foreign soaps, and 64 pieces of complete raw donkey skins intended for illegal exportation.
Comptroller Bashir stated that the Command recorded 29 seizures within six weeks of intensive patrol and intelligence-driven operations along smuggling flashpoints, including the Mubi–Sahuda axis, the Girei–Wuro Bokki route, the Jamtari–Farang/Belel area, Wuro Alhaji, the Damare bank, the Gurin–Fufore axis, and the Yerima road in Gembu.
Speaking on the dangers posed by expired medical products, he disclosed that 91 cartons of Tramadol capsules were intercepted on August 30, 2025, in Mubi through coordinated enforcement and credible intelligence.
He warned that the spread of substandard and expired drugs could result in mass health crises, high mortality rates, and increased youth addiction.
“If these expired Tramadol capsules had found their way into circulation, they could have caused widespread harm, human capital deterioration, and unfair market competition. The Command will hand them over to NAFDAC immediately after this briefing, in line with Section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023,” the Comptroller said.
He added that the Command would work closely with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to ensure the safe destruction of the seized drugs in a joint operation at a later date.
Regarding the interception of 64 raw donkey skins, Comptroller Bashir explained that the items were seized on September 30, 2025, at the Damare River Bank, following intelligence reports. The smugglers, he said, had concealed the skins in three sacks, awaiting nightfall to ferry them across the waterways into Cameroon.
He noted that the export of donkey skin contravenes Schedule 6 (Export Prohibition List) of the Common External Tariff and Section 150 of the NCS Act 2023.
“The seizure represents the slaughter of 64 donkeys. If this illicit trade continues unchecked, the species risks extinction. Such activities are primarily driven by international demand, particularly from Asia,” he said.
Similarly, 54 cartons of foreign soap were seized along the Damare River Bank on October 3, 2025, at approximately 10:00 p.m. The importation, according to the CAC, contravenes Schedule 3 of the Common External Tariff (2022–2026) and Section 233 of the NCS Act 2023.
He disclosed that the seized PMS would be auctioned to the public immediately after the press conference in accordance with the Service’s Standard Operating Procedure, with proceeds remitted into the Federation Account.
Emphasising the Command’s sustained engagement with border communities, the CAC said continuous dialogue with residents has helped disrupt smuggling networks and strengthen intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
He noted that cooperation with sister security agencies and other Customs units had greatly contributed to the Command’s operational success.
Comptroller Bashir commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for his visionary leadership and consistent support in empowering field operations.
He extended gratitude to the media for their balanced reportage and urged journalists to continue educating the public on the dangers of smuggling to the nation’s economy and security.
“Let me state unequivocally that the Command will not relent in the fight against illicit trade until smuggling cartels and networks in Adamawa and Taraba States are completely dismantled within the confines of the law,” Comptroller Bashir said.
He concluded by assuring that the Command would remain vigilant in protecting Nigeria’s borders and upholding its mandate of revenue generation, national security, and trade facilitation.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom has reaffirmed its development partnership with Kano and Jigawa States, as part of its long-term commitment to development and reform in northern Nigeria.
The Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission Abuja, Ms Cynthia Rowe, recently completed high-level engagements with governors of both states as well as senior government officials and civil society leaders.
The discussions underscored the UK’s modern approach to development as a genuine partnership with Nigeria, which prioritises state-led ownership and sustainable development that delivers lasting impact through strengthening systems and partnerships grounded in investment, trade, climate financing, technical expertise and joint accountability.
According to a statement, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, via the British High Commission, said Nigeria remains one of the UK’s most significant development partners, adding that the engagements underlined the strength and ambition of the bilateral relationship reaffirmed during the recent UK-Nigeria State Visit.
In Kano, Ms Rowe met with Deputy Governor Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo and senior officials, including the newly confirmed Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the State Government. The visit recognised Kano’s progress on climate finance, health system reform and private sector investment supported through UK technical assistance.
In Jigawa, she met with Governor Umar Namadi and heads of key ministries, departments and agencies. The meeting celebrated more than 25 years of UK-Jigawa partnership, one of the most longstanding bilateral development relationships at the subnational level in Nigeria. Discussions covered the state’s continued progress on health systems reform, agriculture, and governance and the path forward under UK technical assistance.
Since 2022, PLANE has supported Kano, Kaduna and Jigawa to strengthen state-led education delivery systems, working through Ministries of Education, SUBEB and key agencies. Its RANA+ foundational learning packages have reached 1.4 million pupils across the three states, alongside wider system strengthening.
Speaking on this, Ms Rowe said, “For more than 25 years, we have worked side by side with state governments, including Jigawa and Kano states, their communities, and civil society to build stronger health systems, improve learning outcomes for millions of children, support farmers to grow their businesses, and help states attract the investment they need to thrive.
These visits have reinforced our confidence in what this partnership can achieve. We are working together to deliver lasting change, and deepening a relationship built on genuine mutual respect and shared ambition for Nigeria’s growth and development.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on data sharing to enhance economic productivity.
This was done at a meeting at CBN Head Office in Abuja, where the weather body led by its Director General, Mr Charles Anosike, on Wednesday, highlighted the importance of integrating weather and climate data into economic research, especially in sectors such as agriculture, energy, and transportation.
He noted that extreme weather events can reduce agricultural productivity and threaten food security.
He added that the collaboration aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises food security through major agricultural investment, including the cultivation of 10 million hectares of land and the distribution of mechanised equipment.
Mr Anosike cited a 2026 World Bank report that showed that extreme weather driven by climate change is significantly affecting global food security, with more than 87 million people facing hunger in East and Southern Africa and 52 million in West and Central Africa.
He also referenced the latest Berkeley Earth Report, which projects that 2026 is likely to be the fourth warmest year on record, a trend that continues to shape agricultural and energy market projections.
In his remarks, Mr Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, Deputy Governor, Economic Policy Directorate of the CBN, said the signing of the MoU marked an important step in strengthening the partnership between two key national institutions whose mandates intersect in data, research, and policy support.
He emphasised that, in an increasingly complex and dynamic economic environment, timely and reliable data remain essential for effective policy decisions.
According to him, the Economic Policy Directorate relies heavily on timely and credible statistical information from NiMet, saying that such data are critical for inflation monitoring, agricultural sector assessment, and broader economic policy advisory functions.
He described the initiative as both timely and important, adding that strong institutional partnerships are essential for strengthening evidence-based policymaking and improving the robustness of national data systems.
At the close of the event, Mr Anosike and Mr Sani Abdullahi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Tunji Disu, has ordered an immediate nationwide ban prohibiting Point-of-Sale (POS) operators from running their businesses within a 200-metre radius of any police station, divisional headquarters, or police formation across Nigeria.
This directive, released via an internal police wireless message, addresses critical systemic challenges regarding extortion and corrupt financial practices within law enforcement facilities.
The order is to be strictly enforced nationwide, with senior officers overseeing various formations to be held accountable for any breach of the directive.
The Nigeria Police Force stated that the measure is intended to strengthen transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the policing system.
The decision comes after an alarming proliferation of POS businesses near police facilities, with investigations and public complaints revealing that some operators were actively complicit in facilitating extortion, bribery, and illegal cash transfers forced upon civilians or suspects during police encounters.
Under the directive, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), State Commissioners of Police (CPs), and heads of formations will be held vicariously liable for any breach within their jurisdictions.
The IGP’s order states: “Any officer or POS merchant found flouting the 200-metre operational boundary or colluding in illicit transactions will face immediate disciplinary and criminal actions under extant laws.
“If you are a POS agent or looking into regulatory compliance for financial services in Nigeria, let me know. I can provide details on current Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) radius registration guidelines or share methods to report officer misconduct directly to the Force Headquarters.”
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