The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has posted a record significant improvement in revenue performance for the 2-month period from March to May 2026.
In his address at a media engagement, Monday, the Customs Area Controller, Seme Customs Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila said the briefing was convened to provide an overview of the Command’s operational activities and achievements in the areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling enforcement since his assumption of office in March 2026.
According to him, “the Command generated a total revenue of Nine Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Thirty-Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Nine Naira (₦9,798,938,969). This represents an increase of Seven Billion, Six Hundred and Ten Million, Five Hundred and Thirty-Three Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty Naira (₦7,610,533,220) when compared to the sum of Two Billion, One Hundred and Eighty-Eight Million, Four Hundred and Five Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira (₦2,188,405,749) collected within the corresponding period in 2025.”
This figure which translates to an impressive growth rate of 448 percent, is an achievement attributable to strengthened compliance mechanisms, improved stakeholder cooperation, intensified anti-revenue leakage measures, enhanced operational efficiency, and the strategic deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System. He stated.
Controller Kaila was quick to add that the renewed dedication of officers and men of the Command also contributed immensely to the attainment of the performance recorded during the period in review, assuring the the Command remains committed to sustaining these gains through institutional reforms, intelligence-driven monitoring, and transparent trade procedures capable of guaranteeing continuous revenue growth without obstructing legitimate trade activities.”
Controller Kaila further noted that “as one of Nigeria’s most strategic and busiest land border formations, the Seme Area Command occupies a critical position in regional and continental trade integration frameworks, particularly under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”
He maintained that In line with the trade facilitation mandate of the Service, the Command has intensified engagement with critical stakeholders including licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, transport unions, importers, exporters, traditional institutions, and sister security agencies operating within the corridor. Through sustained stakeholder consultations and regular interface meetings, the Command has addressed operational bottlenecks, simplified clearance procedures, improved compliance awareness, and strengthened mutual trust between the Service and the trading public.”
‘Our officers continue to provide guidance and support to Small and Medium Enterprises seeking access to regional and international markets, particularly in export documentation and regulatory compliance processes.” He added.
These initiatives he explained are directly aligned with the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda, promotion of non-oil exports, and ongoing efforts to improve Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business ranking.
Controller Kaila assured that the Seme Area Command remains resolute in its commitment to facilitating lawful trade as well as ensuring strict enforcement against illicit activities capable of undermining national economic interests.
While also showcasing the Seme Area Command in the area of anti-smuggling operations, Controller Kaila revealed that the Command has sustained aggressive intelligence-led enforcement activities aimed at combating economic sabotage, protecting local industries, and safeguarding public health and national security
He revealed that coordinated patrols and surveillance operations conducted along the Seme-Badagry corridor and adjoining routes resulted in the interception of several prohibited and restricted items.
Notably, the Command seized 1000 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic substance prohibited under the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act and Section 245(1) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. The seized narcotics are currently being processed for formal handover to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution. In addition, the Command intercepted substantial quantities of unregistered pharmaceutical products, including codeine-based cough syrups and various sexual enhancement drugs lacking certification from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). These items contravene the provisions of Section 55(1)(c) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023. The products seized include one carton containing 55 bottles of Ultimate Plus Maca Syrup (100ml each), 88 packs of 99 Bullets Herbal Medicine (30ml each), 10 cartons of Ultimate Plus Maca Sildenafil Citrate 200mg, 14 cartons of Super Sexy Sildenafil Citrate 200mg, 14 cartons of Machine Man Sildenafil Citrate 200mg, quantities of Bottom Up Sildenafil Citrate 200mg, 100 packs of Tramaking, and 100 packs of Tempendol.
While noting that these products will also be formally handed over to NAFDAC for appropriate regulatory action, he further revealed that the Command recorded significant seizures of other prohibited and restricted goods in separate enforcement operations. These include 2,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 340 kegs of 25 litres each of foreign vegetable oil, 103 kegs of 30 litres each of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 993 cartons of foreign spaghetti, and 250 bales of used clothing with Duty Paid Value of all the aforementioned intercepted items is 501,845,772 Naira.
“These seizures underscore the Command’s zero-tolerance stance against smuggling and reaffirm our determination to protect the nation’s economy, support local industries, preserve public safety, and enforce compliance with extant import and export regulations” he said.
Comptroller Kaila therefore warned smugglers and their collaborators that the Seme Area Command will not serve as a safe haven for illicit trade noting that the Command has significantly strengthened its intelligence network, enhanced surveillance capacity across land and maritime routes, and intensified collaboration with relevant security and regulatory agencies to combat trans-border crimes and economic sabotage. To compliant traders and legitimate business operators, I wish to reiterate that compliance remains the safest, fastest, and most cost-effective pathway for conducting international trade.
He encouraged stakeholders to continue utilising the Nigeria Customs trade facilitation platforms and dispute-resolution mechanisms for seamless business operations
He commended the officers and men of the Seme Area Command for their resilience, discipline, and unwavering commitment to duty, while also appreciating critical stakeholders and host communities for their continued support, cooperation, and collaboration with the Command, the Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.