*Showcases Massive Seizures
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Customs Area Controller (CAC), Seme Area Command, Comptroller A.S Kaila has a made a whopping 448 percent increase in the revenue generated by the command since he took the reins of administration two months ago.
In the same vein, contraband worth over N500 million have been intercepted and seized by officers and men of the command within the period under review.
Kaila who made the disclosures in his maiden press briefing at the Area Command operational headquarters, Seme recently noted that since assuming office on March 18, 2026, the NCS has generated not less than ₦9.79 billion.
He disclosed that the revenue generated by the command between March and May 2026 differ significantly compared to the ₦2.18 billion it realized in the same period in 2025.
Maritime Bits checks revealed that the ₦7.61 billion differential increase was driven by some factors propelled by the CAC since he took the reins of administration from his predecessor, Comptroller Wale Adenuga.
He revealed that these include tighter transit compliance, stronger stakeholder collaboration, targeted anti-leakage strategies, improved efficiency, and the rollout of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
The CAC hailed officers and men of the command for their professionalism and dedication just as he emphasized that sustaining the growth will come through deeper institutional reforms, intelligence-led monitoring, and transparent trade procedures, among other measures driven by the service.
While describing Seme as one of Nigeria’s busiest and most strategic land borders, he pointed out that it plays a central role in regional trade under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).
The Customs Chief also explained that in order to ease trade flow, cut bottlenecks and simplify cargo clearance, the command has intensified engagements with stakeholders in the maritime sector of the economy and beyond. These include freight forwarders, licensed agents, transport unions, importers, exporters, traditional institutions, and other security agencies.
According to Kaila, beyond enforcement, officers and men are mentoring small and medium-scale enterprises on export documentation and compliance, supporting the Federal Government’s drive for economic diversification and non-oil exports.
Apparently giving an insights into the strides the command have made since he took the reins of administration following his appointment as the CAC by the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Customs Chief said the command has sustained what he called “aggressive, intelligence-driven operations” in recent times.
His words: “In the last two months, patrols along the Seme-Badagry corridor has led to the seizure of 800 parcels of suspected cannabis sativa, which will be handed to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution. Officers also intercepted unregistered pharmaceuticals, including codeine-based cough syrups and sexual enhancement drugs lacking NAFDAC approval.
“Items seized included Ultimate Plus Maker Syrup, Super Sexy, Machine Man, Citrate tablets, Tramadol, and various herbal medicines. Other confiscated goods were 2,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 340 kegs of vegetable oil, 103 kegs of PMS, 993 cartons of foreign spaghetti, and 250 bales of used clothing. The total Duty Paid Value exceeded ₦500 million.”
The CAC warned smugglers and other criminal elements along the corridor to desist from their illicit trade as he noted that the command under his watch has strengthened intelligence gathering, surveillance, and inter-agency cooperation to tackle trans-border crimes no matter what it takes.
Kaila enjoined stakeholders in the maritime industry, especially compliant traders to embrace lawful trade, calling it the safest and most cost-effective route.
He also used the occasion to commend stakeholders, host communities, and the media for their support just as he reaffirmed NCS commitment under CGC Adeniyi to balance revenue generation with trade facilitation, border security, and national economic growth.
