The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has disclosed that it impounded 140 bundles of smuggled textile materials worth N11.2 billion in Lagos.
The customs said that the officers attached to Zone A, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), yesterday, intercepted the smuggled goods coming from neighbouring countries into Nigeria. The agency also stated that the smuggling is at the expense of the locally produced textiles goods.
While disclosing the development, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Zone A, Mohammed Aliyu, said-
“The textile materials which were worth over N11.2 million were intercepted by our officers after being smuggled from neighbouring countries”.
“Also, a total of 25,153 bags of foreign parboiled rice smuggled into the country were also intercepted by our men at the nation’s borderland.”
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The Nigerian textile industry, according to the Central Bank’s Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, is worth over $10 billion. Bu the country spends over $4 billion on the importation of textiles and ready-made clothing materials annually, and also loses over $2.2 billion to the illegal activities of smugglers in the country.
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As Nairametrics previously reported, the Central Bank has begun blacklisting of individual and businesses or companies who are found to be involved in the smuggling of any of the 43 items banned by the Government.
It is, however, noted that the activities of smugglers illegally importing textile materials through the national borders have increased following the ban. What this means is that locally produced products might lose markets as a result of smuggling. This could, in turn, affect the economy.
Moreover, the local industry could eventually collapse unless drastic actions is taken by the Federal Government towards addressing the situation.
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