By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has announced the generation of N9.79 billion in revenue between March and May 2026, representing a 448 per cent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2025.
The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Abdullahi Kaila, disclosed this during a media briefing held on Monday at the Seme Area Command headquarters.
According to him, the Command generated a total of N9,798,938,969 within the review period, compared to N2,188,405,749 recorded during the same period in 2025, reflecting an increase of N7.61 billion.
He attributed the sharp rise in revenue to strengthened compliance mechanisms, improved stakeholder cooperation, intensified anti-revenue leakage measures, enhanced operational efficiency, and the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
Kaila noted that the dedication and vigilance of officers and men of the Command also contributed significantly to the improved performance.
He stated that the Seme border remains one of Nigeria’s busiest and most strategic land borders, playing a critical role in regional trade integration under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
He explained that the Command had intensified engagement with customs agents, freight forwarders, transport unions, importers, exporters, traditional institutions, and other security agencies to improve trade facilitation and compliance.
According to Kaila, the Command has also continued to support Small and Medium Enterprises with export documentation and regulatory compliance processes in line with the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda and non-oil export drive.
On anti-smuggling operations, Kaila said the Command sustained aggressive intelligence-led enforcement operations along the Seme-Badagry corridor and adjoining routes.
He disclosed that operatives intercepted 1,000 parcels of Cannabis Sativa and several unregistered pharmaceutical products, including codeine-based cough syrups and sexual enhancement drugs lacking certification from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
“The seized pharmaceutical products included cartons of Ultimate Plus Maca Sildenafil Citrate, Super Sexy Sildenafil Citrate, Machine Man Sildenafil Citrate, Tramaking, Tempendol, and other herbal medicines.
Kaila stated that the narcotics would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), while the pharmaceutical products would be transferred to NAFDAC for further regulatory action.
He further revealed that the Command seized 2,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 340 kegs of vegetable oil, 103 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit, 993 cartons of foreign spaghetti, and 250 bales of used clothing during separate operations.
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According to him, the Duty Paid Value of all intercepted items stood at N501.8 million.
The Customs boss warned smugglers and their collaborators that the Seme Area Command would not tolerate illicit trade, adding that surveillance and intelligence operations had been intensified across land and maritime routes.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to revenue generation, trade facilitation, border security, and national economic development under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
