Afeni Vows No Safe Haven for Illicit Traders as Customs, NAFDAC, Military close ranks against fake Goods in Ogun Border communities

In a renewed offensive against smuggling and the proliferation of counterfeit products, the Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened strategic partnerships with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigerian Army to tighten security across Nigeria’s southwestern border corridors.

The collaborative initiative was reinforced during separate high-level visits to the Command Headquarters in Idiroko by the Director of NAFDAC’s Federal Task Force on Fake and Substandard Products, Dr. Martin Iluyomade, and the Commander of the 35 Artillery Brigade, Abeokuta, Brigadier General Friday Oguche Onu.

At the heart of the engagements was a shared determination to dismantle trans-border criminal networks, curb the influx of fake and expired products, and strengthen intelligence-led operations designed to protect public health, national security, and the economy.

During discussions with the Acting Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, Dr. Iluyomade commended the Command’s impressive anti-smuggling record and called for enhanced intelligence sharing, coordinated enforcement actions, and sustained inter-agency cooperation to prevent counterfeit goods from finding their way into Nigerian markets.

He warned that the growing menace of substandard products poses a grave threat not only to consumers but also to indigenous manufacturers struggling to compete with illicit imports.

Responding, Deputy Comptroller Afeni reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders, insisting that only a united front among security and regulatory agencies can effectively neutralize organized smuggling syndicates.

“Our resolve to secure the nation’s borders against illicit trade is unwavering. Strengthening our partnership with the Federal Task Force will enhance our operational efficiency and ensure importers of fake and substandard items find no safe haven within our jurisdiction,” Afeni declared.

The Customs chief also appealed to importers, licensed customs agents, and residents of border communities to embrace legitimate trade practices and promptly report suspicious movements and activities to relevant authorities.

In a separate but equally significant engagement, Brigadier General Onu reiterated the Nigerian Army’s commitment to supporting Customs operations along Ogun State’s strategic border axis. He emphasized that enhanced military collaboration remains indispensable in combating trans-border crimes, including smuggling, trafficking, and other threats to national security.

“Security along our border communities requires a seamless, unified front. The 35 Artillery Brigade remains fully committed to fostering joint operations to safeguard national security and economic stability,” the Brigade Commander stated.

Deputy Comptroller Afeni, while appreciating the Army’s unwavering support, noted that sustained joint operations have continued to yield positive results in suppressing illicit trade and facilitating legitimate cross-border commerce.

The strengthened alliance among Customs, NAFDAC, and the Nigerian Army signals a new phase in Nigeria’s border management strategy—one anchored on intelligence, collaboration, and decisive enforcement. For smugglers and traffickers operating along the Ogun border corridor, the message from Idiroko is unmistakable: the net is tightening, and there will be no refuge for those undermining the nation’s economic and security interests.