S’West auto dealers storm Customs office, alleges extortion
By Samuel Ogunsona
Car dealers in the Southwest region under the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), have staged a protest against the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The association alleges extortion, harassment, and unlawful seizure of vehicles.
The demonstrators converged on the Ondo/Ekiti Customs Command headquarters in Akure, Ondo State, carrying placards with inscriptions like “We pay duty, stop the harassment” and “Customs – Uphold the Law, Not Extortion”.
According to the dealers, vehicles legally cleared at Lagos ports are still being intercepted on highways, subjected to arbitrary revaluation, and forced to pay additional unofficial fees.
Alhaji Ibrahim Adeniyi, National Vice President of AMDON, said the protest was long overdue, citing persistent problems caused by customs officers on the roads.
“We came here because of the way they embarrass us, stop us on the road, and issue fresh bills after we have cleared vehicles from the ports. It’s exploitation,” Adeniyi stated.
“They collect money from us at the port, and when we get to our states, they still collect more. That’s why we came en masse to fight for our rights.”
The dealers commended the Comptroller of the Ondo/Ekiti Command, Mrs. Queen Obazee, for listening to their grievances. Obazee reportedly denied knowledge of the alleged extortion and promised to investigate the matter.
“She’s a very nice woman. She promised us many things, which she has been carrying out with immediate effect and she promised us that harassment and extortion will not be allowed by the command,” Adeniyi added.
In response to the protest, the NCS stated that it is committed to professionalism and integrity.
The command has met with representatives of the Auto Dealers Association and assured them that measures are being put in place to prevent unprofessional conduct. Additional training has been approved for officers to deepen professionalism and enhance compliance.
The NCS encouraged stakeholders to channel grievances through official platforms and avoid hasty judgments based on unverified claims.
