Badagry, Lagos – October 3, 2025 — In a significant breakthrough in the fight against smuggling, the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Badagry has handed over 419 bags of smuggled foreign parboiled rice to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command.
The seizure, which was the result of intensified surveillance and proactive patrols along the Badagry–Porto Novo Creek and adjoining waterways, marks another milestone in the Navy’s ongoing efforts to rid Nigeria’s maritime corridors of illegal activities.
The contraband was intercepted by the Base’s Quick Response Teams as part of a coordinated operation to disrupt the activities of economic saboteurs exploiting the nation’s waterways for illicit trade.
During the official handover, the Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry, Navy Captain BO Omotayo—represented by the Base Administrative Officer, Lieutenant Commander SO Talabi—reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to enforcing federal policies on maritime security and economic protection.
Captain Omotayo highlighted that the operation aligns with the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla’s Strategic Directive 06–2023, which calls for strengthened maritime security as a foundation for national development.
He also praised the dedication and professionalism of Navy personnel at the Base, noting their role in frustrating the efforts of smugglers and other cross-border criminals. He further emphasized that the Base would continue to rely on intelligence-driven operations and maintain close collaboration with other security agencies and local communities in the Badagry area.
“The Forward Operating Base Badagry remains resolute in fulfilling its mandate to secure Nigeria’s maritime domain,” Captain Omotayo said. “We strongly advise those engaged in illegal activities to desist, as the Navy will not relent in defending the nation’s territorial integrity and economic interests.”
The handover of the seized rice to customs is in accordance with the Harmonized Standard Operating Procedure (HSOP) for inter-agency cooperation, which guides the joint effort to tackle smuggling and other cross-border crimes.
The event underscores the growing synergy between the Navy and the Nigeria Customs Service in the fight against smuggling, particularly in Nigeria’s coastal and border communities.
