Seme Customs Records ₦9.7bn Revenue, Seizes Contraband Worth ₦501m

Victoria Silvanus
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The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, says it generated over ₦9.7 billion in revenue between March and May 2026, representing a 448 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Speaking during a media briefing held at the Seme Area Command  on Monday, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, said the Command recorded a total revenue of ₦9,798,938,969 within the review period, compared to ₦2,188,405,749 generated during the corresponding period in 2025.

According to him, the significant increase was driven by strengthened compliance measures, improved stakeholder cooperation, intensified anti-revenue leakage strategies, and the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
Kaila said the Command remained committed to sustaining the revenue growth through institutional reforms, intelligence-driven monitoring, and transparent trade procedures designed to support legitimate trade activities.

He described the Seme border corridor as one of Nigeria’s most strategic trade routes under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He added that officers of the Command were also supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) seeking access to regional and international markets through guidance on export documentation and regulatory compliance.
On anti-smuggling operations, Kaila disclosed that the Command intercepted 1,000 parcels of Cannabis Sativa within the last three months during coordinated patrols along the Seme-Badagry corridor and adjoining routes.

Speaking further, the Comptroller said  the seized narcotics would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and prosecution.

The Command also intercepted unregistered pharmaceutical products, including codeine-based cough syrups and sexual enhancement drugs without approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Among the seized products were cartons of Sildenafil Citrate drugs, Ultimate Plus Maca Syrup, Tramaking, Tempendol, and other uncertified medicines.

In separate operations, the Command further seized 2,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 340 kegs of foreign vegetable oil, 103 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 993 cartons of foreign spaghetti, and 250 bales of used clothing.
Kaila stated that the Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seized items stood at ₦501.8 million.

He reiterated the Command’s zero-tolerance stance against smuggling, warning smugglers and their collaborators that the Seme border would 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,” he said.

The Customs Area Controller also urged traders and business operators to embrace compliance, describing it as the safest and most cost-effective pathway for international trade.
He commended officers and men of the Command for their dedication and appreciated stakeholders, host communities, and the media for their continued cooperation and support.

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