NewStats: 3,259,203 , 8,169,404 topics. Date: Saturday, 24 May 2025 at 09:05 AM 4m2n55

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) at Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) disclosed on Friday that it intercepted combat-ready Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, alongside military hardware.

Speaking to reporters in his office regarding the command’s activities in 2023, the Customs Area Controller, Compt. Charles Orbih, also revealed that the command generated N30.5 billion in revenue between January and December 2023.

Compt. Orbih said that in addition to the combat drone’s specifications—equipped with first aid box space, weapon storage, and capable of 70 hours of flight—another 154 drones were either seized or detained by the command.

He further stressed that these drones lacked the essential End Certificate (EUC) from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and exceeded the allowed specifications for entry into the country.

He said, “While the country allows drones of up to 250 grammes, this combat drone weighs about 5,000 grammes. With a flight capacity of over 70 hours and space for weapon handling, it can be utilized as a weapon of war and it lacks the essential EUC from the National Security Adviser (NSA).”

The Customs CAC also revealed that the revenue generated in 2023 exceeded its yearly target by 5 per cent, reaching N30.5 billion from imports.

He said, “The Muritala Mohammed International Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has collected the sum of N30.5 billion as revenue from 1st January to 31st December 2023. The revenue collected exceeded the revenue target given to the Command by the NCS Headquarters of N29.14 billion with a total sum of N1.35 billion which implies that the Command sured its revenue target by 5% for the year under review.

“A comparative analysis of the revenue collected for the corresponding year 2022 of N20.89 billion which revealed a 46% increase in total revenue collection with a difference of N9.6 billion. Since my assumption of office in the Command, it is worthy to note that the Command has consecutively sured its monthly target from September to December 2023 as represented in the total revenue collected within the period under review.”

The CAC also detailed the seizure of 330 military and other security wares, 126 walkie-talkies, and their accessories.

He said, “According to Section 245 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 which empowers a Customs Officer to seize and detain prohibited goods, the Command also made 125 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N801.56 million for the year 2023.

“The items intercepted include 89 Seized Drones; 66 Drones Detained; 330 Military and other Security Wares; 700 rolls of Cigarettes each containing 10 packs;126 Walkie Talkies and their Accessories; 87 pieces of Artifacts and Antiquities; 22 pieces of Elephant Tusks; $10,000 counterfeit notes handed over to Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and $8,800 concealed in an album.

“Other seizures include 300 pieces of lady’s footwear, 2 bags of Precious stones and other numerous items; three suspects were arrested in connection with the seizures. While investigation is ongoing, they will be charged to court as soon as it is completed.”

“The commitment and diligence of the officers and men of the Command and other Units including the Valuation Unit, Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) and the Customs Police enabled seamless operation of carrying out these enormous tasks.”

https://leadership.ng/customs-intercepts-combat-ready-drone-military-hardware-at-mmia/

That small UAV is capable of sending those bandit terrorising Parts of Ondo to hell. I think Amotekun should through the Governor get the End Certificate to acquire things like this for better surveillance of the forest

Some reports can be very irritating. You intercepted some contraband and just gave some skeletal description of what the law says about such importation and failed to give the slimmest explanation of the suspected importer. The next rubbish is to start telling us how much you generate. I opened this thread to get the details of the seized items, not what you generate that has almost no effect on me.

This may be a diversion of military consignment. It is abnormal and bizarre how criminality and terrorism keep rising with the same rate at which the army and the paramilitaries are funded and facilitated to acquire more equipments.

Nature is the only thing that proofs that Nigeria is actually meant to be on this God green earth when compared to other earthly climes. May God deliver the Nigerians and Nigeria!

A drone of 5kg weight with 70 hours of flight time and ports for munitions is definitely a security risk to any country.

The question begging for answer is can such drone be bought off the shelves even in developed countries?

Okay

naija oti lo

It will be released and nothing will happen after this display, na eye service this customs people dey do. Money will soon exchange hands and that's the end. Customs is the most corrupt uniformed organisation in the country.

Who knows if this is not the only one? Many of these drones might have probably found their way into the country.

Sorry but this is very bad news. Battle-ready drones in the hands of terrorists can do great damage and neither do we have a good air-defense system.

Nigeria is a comic relief sometimes. You're not even ashamed mentioning the seizure of a single 5kg drone in this 2023?? If Nigeria was a functioning country, we'll be a net exporter of military equipment including drones to Africa. What's drone that one can even manufacture in one's backyard for goodness sake ??

matify83:
A drone of 5kg weight with 70 hours of flight time and ports for munitions is definitely a security risk to any country.

The question begging for answer is can such drone be bought off the shelves even in developed countries?

The flight time is an exaggeration.
That drone on display can't last more than 1 hour in flight.
Yes, it can be bought OTC.

Could be a simple youth trying to get a toy.
They don't know drones are used even in agriculture

Good

The customs should continue with this good work so that we may have peace in this country

Drones will end Nigeria, people should be very careful

Drones are beneficial for a lot of purposes

Please let us develop our mind

So the Nigeria Military isn't that bad after all

The other when Indian Navy dealt with Some Pirates, enemies of the states where everywhere saying NA or NN wouldn't do shit


They will be here to say some irrational negative things to undermine this effort

Who owns the Drone?

Many many things happening in this country. A lot of people at the top have vested interest in the destruction of this country.

But Nigeria must be healed by God.

Alright

hmm

Who imported the drone? These customs guys are more than useless. If you are seizing a drone then you should also have an arrested suspect.
The NSA will never approve license for any individual to import these kind of drones yet someone went ahead and imported it.

These drones are very deadly as Russia is finding out in Ukraine. Who is the person that imported it? For what purpose? These are questions worth asking but the useless dumb customs can do nothing properly.

RenaissanceGuy:
Nigeria is a comic relief sometimes. You're not even ashamed mentioning the seizure of a single 5kg drone in this 2023?? If Nigeria was a functioning country, we'll be a net exporter of military equipment including drones to Africa. What's drone that one can even manufacture in one's backyard for goodness sake ??

You completely and ignorantly miss the essence of this news. Go back and read it slowly, maybe, just maybe you might comprehend and understand it.

Islie:


https://leadership.ng/customs-intercepts-combat-ready-drone-military-hardware-at-mmia/

how is that a "combat ready drone"?

Them don tag ordinary drone without camera combat drone, lol funny country

Ordinary drone ohh. Something you can easily buy on aliexpress for different use. When it comes to naija, you see a whole press conference.
That was how few years ago a whole minister came to embarrass himself doing press conference over pyrotechnics for events. Another one raised press conference over paint ball guns.

Let me sit down and digest this piece first.

Richtaiwo:
Some reports can be very irritating. You intercepted some contraband and just gave some skeletal description of what the law says about such importation and failed to give the slimmest explanation of the suspected importer. The next rubbish is to start telling us how much you generate. I opened this thread to get the details of the seized items, not what you generate that has almost no effect on me.

My sentiments exactly..