Auto dealers in the South-West, under the umbrella of the Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria (AMDON), on Monday staged a protest against alleged harassment and extortion by officials of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The protesters, who converged on the Ondo/Ekiti Area Command headquarters of the NCS in Akure, Ondo State, accused customs officers of persistently intimidating their members and seizing vehicles that had already been legally cleared at the ports.
Chanting solidarity songs, the dealers carried placards with inscriptions such as “We Pay Duty, Stop the Harassment,” “Customs: Uphold the Law, Not Extortion,” and “Release Our Vehicles.”
They alleged that despite paying duties at Lagos ports, customs officers continued to intercept their vehicles on highways, subjecting them to arbitrary revaluation and demanding additional unofficial fees.
Speaking during the protest, the National Vice President of AMDON, Alhaji Ibrahim Adeniyi, said the demonstration was long overdue.
“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 is exploitation,” he said.
“They collect money from us at the port, and when we get to our states, they still demand more. That’s why we came out en masse to fight for our rights.”
Adeniyi explained that members from Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, and Ogun states participated in the protest. He, however, commended the state Comptroller of Customs, Mrs. Queen Obazee, for listening to their grievances. According to him, the comptroller denied issuing any such directives and promised to investigate the matter.
In response, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Aondoakura Dzungwenen, issued a statement stressing that the NCS remained committed to professionalism, transparency, and integrity.
The statement read in part:
“In the spirit of accountability, the command has met with representatives of the Auto Dealers Association to address the matter. Assurances were given that measures are being put in place to streamline operational procedures and prevent a recurrence of incidents that could be misconstrued as unprofessional conduct. On their part, members of the association have tendered an apology to the service.”
He added that additional training had been approved for officers, covering modules on enforcement procedures, operational engagement, stakeholder relations, and reputation management, to deepen professionalism and strengthen public trust.
While urging stakeholders to use official complaint channels, the statement cautioned against “hasty judgments based on unverified claims,” reiterating the service’s commitment to fairness, integrity, and respect for the rule of law.
