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As Customs seizes 870 smuggled vehicles worth N3.88bn in 15 months
By Efe Onodjae
Stakeholders in the automobile and maritime sectors have identified delays and high clearing costs as major reasons Nigerian car importers patronise neighbouring countries’ ports and also resort to smuggling.
Data from the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) show that no fewer than 870 vehicles were seized between 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 over violations linked to importation as well as smuggling.
According to the Customs seizure report, a total of 160 seizures involving 870 vehicles were recorded during the period. The affected vehicles had a Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of N3.136 billion, while the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) stood at N3.88 billion.
Speaking in an interview with Vanguard, the National President of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), Ajibola Adedoyin, said the major factor driving vehicle importers to neighbouring countries is
