The Nigeria Customs Service seized 15,212 bags of smuggled rice worth more than N907.78 million in the first quarter of 2026.
Data obtained Online from the Enforcement Investigation and Inspection Department’s Enforcement Return and Statistics Unit revealed that the agency recorded 286 rice seizure incidents between January and March 2026.
The statistics also showed that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the confiscated rice amounted to N1.38 billion during the three-month period.
A closer review of the figures showed varying monthly seizure volumes, with February accounting for the highest number of interceptions in the quarter.
In January, Customs intercepted 4,027 bags of smuggled rice across 64 cases. The seizures had a Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) value of N244.77 million, while the payable duty stood at N97.82 million. The DPV for the month was estimated at N342.58 million.
The volume of seizures increased significantly in February, rising by 56.5 per cent month-on-month to 6,301 bags from 127 cases.
For February, the seized rice carried a CIF value of N360.11 million, with duty estimated at N200.69 million. The DPV for the month reached N560.80 million.
However, the number of seizures declined in March, dropping by 29 per cent month-on-month to 4,884 bags from 95 interception cases.
The March seizures recorded a CIF value of N302.91 million, while payable duty stood at N169.30 million and the DPV was estimated at N472.21 million.
Commenting on the development, Eugene Nweke, Head of Research at the Sea Empowerment and Research Centre, stated that rice smuggling in Nigeria cannot be completely eliminated overnight because of economic pressures and increasing food demand.
According to Nweke, despite government import restrictions and tariffs on rice, neighbouring countries continue to profit from the trade while smugglers exploit border routes to move rice into Nigeria.
He noted that domestic rice production has yet to satisfy national demand, making total eradication of smuggling unrealistic.
“You can only try to reduce or suppress it. Customs cannot completely eradicate rice smuggling because it is an international issue,” he said.
Nweke also called on the Federal Government to reassess its rice importation policies and maintain long-term investment in local rice production to reduce dependence on imports.