Seme Customs Generates ₦9.8bn Revenue, Seizes Contraband Worth ₦500m in Two Months

… Adeleke Olubanwo

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has recorded a major breakthrough in revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations, generating nearly ₦9.8 billion in revenue and intercepting contraband goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of over ₦500 million within two months.
Speaking at his maiden press briefing since assuming office on March 18, 2026, the Customs Area Controller, Abdullahi S. Kaila, highlighted the command’s operational milestones and reaffirmed its commitment to trade facilitation, border security, and national economic growth.
Addressing journalists, stakeholders, officers, and men of the service, Kaila described the achievements as evidence of enhanced operational efficiency, intelligence-led enforcement, and strengthened collaboration with stakeholders.

According to him, the Seme Area Command generated a total revenue of ₦9,798,938,969 between March and May 2026, representing an increase of ₦7.61 billion compared to the ₦2.18 billion recorded during the same period in 2025. He noted that the performance reflected an impressive 448 percent growth rate.
Kaila attributed the sharp rise in revenue to strengthened anti-revenue leakage measures, stricter compliance systems, improved stakeholder engagement, and the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
“The renewed commitment, professionalism, and vigilance demonstrated by officers and men of the command have greatly contributed to this outstanding performance,” he said.
He added that the command remained focused on institutional reforms, transparent trade procedures, and intelligence-based monitoring to sustain revenue growth without disrupting legitimate trade.

The Customs boss emphasized the strategic importance of the Seme border corridor in advancing regional and continental trade integration, particularly under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He explained that the command had intensified engagements with licensed customs agents, freight forwarders, transport unions, importers, exporters, traditional institutions, and sister security agencies to improve trade operations and ensure compliance.
According to him, regular consultations and interface meetings with stakeholders have simplified clearance procedures, increased awareness of compliance requirements, and strengthened trust between Customs and the trading community.

Kaila further revealed that the command had continued supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through export documentation guidance and regulatory compliance assistance aimed at improving access to regional and international markets.
“These initiatives are aligned with the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda and ongoing efforts to improve Nigeria’s ease of doing business,” he stated.
On anti-smuggling efforts, the Customs Area Controller disclosed that the command had intensified intelligence-led patrols and surveillance operations across the Seme-Badagry corridor and adjoining routes.
Among the major seizures recorded were 800 parcels of suspected cannabis sativa, which he said violated provisions of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act and Section 245(1) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
He disclosed that the narcotics would be officially handed over to the NDLEA for further investigation and prosecution.

The command also intercepted large quantities of unregistered pharmaceutical products, including codeine-based cough syrups and sexual enhancement drugs lacking approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The seized pharmaceutical items included one carton containing 55 bottles of Ultimate Plus Maker Syrup (100ml), 88 packs of “99 Bullets” herbal medicine, 10 cartons of Ultimate Plus Maker Sedal, 14 cartons each of Super Sexy, Machine Man, and Citrate 200mg, as well as 100 packs each of Tramartine and Campendol.
Kaila stated that the products violated Section 55(1)(c) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and would be handed over to NAFDAC for necessary regulatory action.
Other items intercepted during separate operations included 2,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 340 kegs of foreign vegetable oil, 103 kegs of premium motor spirit, 993 cartons of foreign spaghetti, and 250 bags of used clothing.
The Customs Area Controller disclosed that the cumulative Duty Paid Value of all seized items stood at ₦500,001,845.772.
He stressed that the seizures underscored the command’s zero-tolerance stance against smuggling and economic sabotage.
“These enforcement actions are aimed at protecting local industries, safeguarding public health, preserving national security, and ensuring compliance with import and export regulations,” Kaila stated.
He also issued a strong warning to smugglers and criminal syndicates operating along the border corridor, emphasizing that the command would continue to strengthen intelligence gathering, surveillance, and inter-agency collaboration to combat trans-border crimes.
Kaila urged legitimate traders and business operators to embrace compliance, describing it as “the safest, fastest, and most cost-effective pathway for conducting international trade.”
He commended officers and men of the command for their dedication, resilience, and professionalism, while also appreciating stakeholders, host communities, and the media for their continued support.
The Customs boss reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to balancing revenue generation with trade facilitation, border security, and economic development.
“The Seme Area Command will continue to discharge its responsibilities with integrity, transparency, and professionalism in line with the Service reform agenda and the expectations of Nigerians,” he concluded.