Investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo has alleged that some officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) are aiding smugglers in bringing large quantities of rice into Nigeria from Benin Republic.
In a recent post on his X account, Soyombo claimed that certain bags of rice had already been unloaded at the ultra-modern market in Lusada, built by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola Yayi. He wrote, “Good morning, @customsNG. As I write this, your men are currently helping smugglers sneak loads of bags of rice into Nigeria from Benin Republic.”
Soyombo further stated that while it has yet to be confirmed whether the rice is part of the over 6,500,000kg smuggled through more than 2,000 vehicles, he noted that the smugglers, assisted by Customs officers, were passing through several locations including Alapoti, Ketu Adie Owe, and Lusada in Ogun State. Some of the rice has already been offloaded at the Lusada market, while the rest is en route to Lagos through Totowu River, with plans to be sold in markets such as Igando.
The journalist also claimed that today, being Lusada market day, smugglers and corrupt officials will benefit financially at the expense of the local economy. He warned that tomorrow, Customs officers will likely announce the seizure of smuggled rice, although Soyombo suggested that some of these bags may still end up in markets after being “settled” through bribes.
Soyombo’s accusations have raised concerns about corruption within the Nigeria Customs Service and the continued impact of rice smuggling on Nigeria’s local markets.
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