Nigeria’s arms and ammunition imports rose by 104.31 per cent in the first half of 2026, reaching N55.06 billion, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The figure, contained in the NBS Foreign Trade Statistics for the second quarter of 2026, represents an increase of N28.11 billion compared with the N26.95 billion recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
The development has raised concerns over the growing movement of arms into the country, especially following recent interceptions of consignments of pump-action rifles by the Nigeria Customs Service.
Security stakeholders have expressed concerns about the possible factors responsible for the increase, particularly with less than one year to the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on the development, a professor at Lagos State University, Prof. Dapo Thomas, said insecurity, political activities and rising demand for weapons could be contributing factors.
Thomas said gun-running had become a business for some individuals, adding that security challenges could encourage increased supply of illegal arms.
He, however, cautioned against attributing the rise solely to the forthcoming elections, noting that insecurity and other factors could also influence the movement of weapons.
The professor urged the Federal Government, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Police and other security agencies responsible for border control to strengthen surveillance and monitoring of goods entering the country.
He warned that continued security lapses could create an environment that encourages criminal activities and illegal arms trafficking.
Meanwhile, the National President of the National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, Lucky Amiwero, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for intercepting recent consignments of pump-action rifles imported from Turkey.
Amiwero said the interceptions highlighted the importance of stronger cargo inspection and intelligence-sharing mechanisms.
He noted that detecting concealed prohibited items inside containers was challenging, stressing the need for improved inspection procedures.
“We have to commend the Customs for what they are doing. Intercepting those things is not an easy thing to intercept,” he said.
Amiwero called for greater cooperation among countries involved in cargo movement, saying access to pre-arrival information could help Nigerian authorities identify suspicious consignments before they arrive at the ports.
Also speaking, the Secretary-General of the Importers Association of Nigeria, Ahmed Yar’Adua, said the association would engage the Nigeria Customs Service over recent arms interceptions and concerns surrounding the movement of prohibited items through the ports.
He said the discussions would involve stakeholders in the importation and clearance chain to examine the circumstances surrounding the development and identify measures to prevent future occurrences.
The NBS data showed that arms and ammunition imports increased from N26.95 billion in the first half of 2025 to N55.06 billion in the first half of 2026, representing a 104.31 per cent rise.
The increase has renewed attention on the channels through which arms enter Nigeria and the capacity of relevant agencies to detect and prevent illegal consignments.
