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Traders and importers at Lagos ports are raising serious concerns over alleged corruption and extortion by some customs officials, with claims of hefty payments demanded even for cleared goods.
A Lagos-based importer told reporters that he paid N600,000 at Ijagbo Customs just to transport a vehicle from Lagos to Owerri, despite the car already being cleared by the Nigerian Customs Service. The source added that payments were often made through POS operators, a common practice reportedly used to collect unofficial fees.
In another incident, the importer recounted how he went to receive luggage sent ahead by a relative. “The customs officials demanded money just for releasing my cousin’s clothes,” he said, adding that the items were ordinary personal belongings.
The allegations reflect long-standing complaints from traders who say excessive levies, multiple checkpoints, and demands for bribes add significant costs and delays to business operations in Nigeria’s ports.
The Nigerian Customs Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment on these allegations
