Seme Customs generates over N9.7b revenue in three months

By Temitope Adebiyi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command said, it generated ₦9,798,938,969 revenue between March and May this year.

The amount, the Area Controller of the command Abdullahi Kaila said, represents an increase of ₦7,610,533,220 when compared to the sum of ₦2,188,405,749 collected within the corresponding period last year.

Addressing reporters at the command today, Kaila added that the figure “translates to an impressive growth rate of 448 percent. This remarkable achievement is 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.

The statutory responsibilities of the Nigeria Customs Service under the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, he said, ‘aligned with the economic reform agenda and national development priorities of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“From March 2026 to date, 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. ”

The renewed dedication, vigilance demonstrated by officers and men of the Command, he added, “have also contributed immensely to this performance. We remain 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.

“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).

” 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, the Area Controller said, “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. These initiatives 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.

“At Seme Area Command, we remain resolute in our commitment to facilitating lawful trade while ensuring strict enforcement against illicit activities capable of undermining national economic interests.”

In the area of anti-smuggling operations, the Command, he said, “has sustained aggressive intelligence-led enforcement activities aimed at combating economic sabotage, protecting local industries, and safeguarding public health and national security. Within the last three months, 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. These products will also be formally handed over to NAFDAC for appropriate regulatory action.

The Command, Kaila said, 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 and the Duty Paid Value of all the aforementioned intercepted items is N501,845,772.

These seizures, he said, “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. Let me use this opportunity to issue a strong warning to smugglers and their collaborators that the Seme Area Command will not serve as a safe haven for illicit trade.

“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. We encourage stakeholders to continue utilising our trade facilitation platforms and dispute-resolution mechanisms for seamless business operations.

He commend the officers and men of the Seme Area Command for their resilience, discipline, and unwavering commitment to duty. I also extend sincere appreciation to our critical stakeholders and host communities for their continued support, cooperation, and collaboration with the Command.

The Service, under the purposeful leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, he said, “remains fully committed to balancing effective revenue generation with trade facilitation, border security, and national economic development. The Seme Area Command will continue to discharge its responsibilities with integrity, transparency, and professionalism in line with the Service’s reform agenda and the expectations of Nigerians,” he said.