*Raids Badagry Market, Seizes 200 Bags of Smuggled Rice
Not less than about N2 billion was rake in as revenue by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command in the first three weeks of 2026, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Wale Adenuga has announced.
The amount rake in by the command is coming on the heels of the sum of N15.6 billion it collected in 2025 with a whopping N3.6 billion of the total revenue collected in December of that year.
The command promised to sustain the high tempo of revenue generation in this year as it fine-tuned strategies to do more.
Adenuga made this revelation in his office while hosting members of the Caretaker Committee, Maritime Reporters Association of Nigeria (MARAN) led by its Chairman, Pastor Tunde Ayodele.
Ayodele and other members of MARAN Caretaker Committee were in Adenuga’s office to pay him a courtesy visit recently.
While welcoming his guests, the Customs Chief declared that his men and officers are fired up to surpass the revenue figures recorded in 2025.
The CAC averred that with the continuous support of NCS Comptroller-General, Dr. Wale Adeniyi alongside his management team and Seme Area Command, the service has continued to meet its set goals and objectives.
He disclosed that while the command has maintained a steady course on revenue generation, it has not eased the step on the anti-smuggling pedal in the New Year.
He also disclosed that just as officers and men of the command are taking the fight to the smugglers in their routes inside the bush, they have equally sustained surveillance on the distribution points of the smuggled goods at the market place.
According to him, the anti-smuggling officers of the command raided the selling point of smuggled rice at the Badagry market on January 21st, 2026 where they impounded over 200 bags of smuggled rice.
Continuing, he said: “We have just raided the Badagry roundabout where these smuggled rice are being assembled and sold. We had on several occasions warned them to desist from this act and leave the place. We have even asked the Oba of Badagry on my last visit to his palace before his death to appeal to these people to vacate the point of sale of the smuggled rice. They will smuggle the rice through the creeks and they will now come to that place and be selling. So if you go there now, you will see that the place has been cleared.”
The CAC vowed that the raid will be a continuous exercise until the Badagry roundabout which he said is a notorious place for selling smuggled rice is cleared of miscreants.
He pledged the support of his command to the leadership of MARAN and promised to collaborate with the association for mutually beneficial programmes.
Ayodele had earlier in his remarks congratulated Adenuga on his assumption of duties as the CAC of Seme Area Command.
He commended him for the strides he has made since his appointment as the helmsman of the command.
Ayodele also assured Adenuga of the support and collaboration of MARAN to ensure that he succeeds in his assignment.
The MARAN Caretaker Chairman stated that the association has noted with keen interest the vibrancy and transformation in the border operations at Seme which Adenuga has brought to the border command within the short time he assumed duties.
“We are not surprised at the level of transformation and burst of activities you brought to Seme Area Command, given your performance trajectory from your previous duty posts, especially at the Apapa Area Command where you were the unseen hands in the unprecedented revenue generation witnessed at the Customs’ flagship command when you were Deputy Comptroller (DC) Revenue.
Meanwhile, the Comptroller-General of NCS, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi has paid a condolence visit to the palace of Oba of Badagry who recently joined his ancestors.
Adeniyi paid his last respect to the departed King through Adenuga who represented the CGC.
According to Adenuga, he went to the palace of the late King on January 21st, 2026 on behalf of CGC to commiserate with the people and chiefs of Badagry Kingdom on the death of their first class monarch.
Ayodele stated that the visit was a testament to the rising profile of Adenuga as a committed customs officer and a reflection of the confidence of the management of NCS in his managerial acumen.
