PeakNews Online
Port Harcourt, Rivers State – The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Area 2 Command in Onne, Rivers State, has declared a state of emergency at Onne Port following the interception of 12 containers carrying illicit goods.
The announcement was made by Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adeniyi, on Wednesday during a press briefing in Port Harcourt.
Adeniyi expressed concerns over the increasing use of the port for importing contraband and harmful items, despite repeated warnings against such activities. He described the ongoing smuggling as a direct threat to national security.
“The policy thrust of Mr. President supports re-energizing our business environment to drive faster import clearance and grow our export capacity,” Adeniyi stated. “However, criminal elements are exploiting our pro-trade stance to breach national security by importing dangerous cargo through Onne Port.”
He lamented that despite recent seizures of illicit goods, including arms, smugglers continue their illegal activities.
Disturbing Trend in Illicit Imports
The Customs boss revealed that intelligence and recent seizures have shown a disturbing trend of Onne Port being increasingly used as a destination for dangerous and illicit cargo. This poses a significant risk to both national security and public health.
“Today, we are showcasing another series of major seizures by the diligent officers of the Area 2 Command. Among the intercepted items are 12 containers, including cartons of illicit drugs, and military/paramilitary gear,” Adeniyi said.
Out of the seized containers, 11 were filled with cartons of illicit drugs, while the twelfth held 4,800 pairs of military camouflage rain boots and 67,320 pairs of rubber footwear, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N923 million. The total DPV of all the containers was calculated at N31.2 billion.
Enhanced Security Measures
As part of efforts to curb the illegal imports, Adeniyi announced the implementation of emergency protocols at the port. He emphasized that this is a national security issue and called on Nigerians to assist by providing intelligence on those behind these illegal activities.
“Effective immediately, we will conduct thorough inspections of all suspicious containers at Onne Port. If owners do not come forward, we will open the containers to verify their contents,” he stated. “This is a temporary measure to clean up the port and restore its integrity.”
The state of emergency is expected to last for six months, during which all suspected containers will be rigorously examined. Adeniyi concluded by urging citizens to provide any information that may help prevent potential security breaches.
