Customs Seme Area Command Generates N743.7m Revenue, Facilitates Export Worth N7.8b in February
... Makes ₦267m Worth of Seizures
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated a total revenue of N743,728,652.16 and facilitated over 28,395.293 tonnes equivalent to 806 trucks of export produce , with a Free On Board (FOB) value of N7,852,172,249.00 for the month of February 2025.
The Area Controller of the Command, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, disclosed this to journalists at the Conference Hall of the Joint Border Post , during his maiden briefing since he took over leadership of the Command.
He added that the Command’s intensified anti-smuggling operations have led to the interception of several prohibited items which includes: 444 Parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), 181 Packs of Tramadol, 600 Bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml each), 240 Kegs of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS). Others are; 1,809 Bags of Foreign Parboiled Rice (50kg each), 17 Sacks of Used Shoes, 56 Bales of Used Clothes and 203 Pieces of Used Tyres.The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the seizures is N267,054,172.00 only.
With the approval of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi , the Seme Area Controller said the seized Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) has been handed over to the Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Seme Command, in line with existing inter-agency collaboration.
He stated that recognising the importance of collaboration in achieving the command’s objectives, key stakeholders, including Traditional Rulers and Security Agencies have been engaged to foster strong relationships and reinforce security measures to promote seamless trade facilitation in the region.
According to Comptroller Oramalugo, to enhance operational efficiency and ensure optimal performance, the Command has undertaken critical restructuring of key sections. This has led to strategic redeployment of officers for better vigilance and proactive border security operations and Increased accountability and improved revenue collection.
He said while the command has recorded significant strides, it remaims resolute in its commitment to strengthening it’s engagement with traditional rulers and community leaders, enhancing surveillance and patrol activities to eliminate smuggling operations as well as deploying advanced intelligence strategies to disrupt illicit trade networks.
“The Command facilitated a total of over Twenty-Eight Thousand metric tonnes (28,395.293) equivalent to Eight Hundred and Six (806) trucks of export produce for the month of February 2025, with a Free On Board (FOB) value of Seven Billion, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Two Thousand, Two Hundred and Forty-Nine Naira (N-7,852,172,249.00k) only, which is equivalent to Four Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty-Seven Dollars, Seventy-Eight Cents (4,995,527.78 USD) only.
“With the approval of the CGC, the seized Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) as you witness has been handed over to the Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Seme Command, in line with existing inter-agency collaboration.These seizures, which contravene relevant sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 (NCSA 23), reaffirm our commitment to suppressing smuggling within the Seme border corridor.
“Let me use this opportunity to warn smugglers and their collaborators that their illegal activities will not be tolerated. Smuggling is an act of economic sabotage, and the Seme Area Command is fully prepared to track down, arrest, and prosecute offenders.
“The proactive measures we have implemented in fostering collaboration, enhancing operational efficiency, boosting revenue generation, and intensifying anti-smuggling efforts are already yielding tangible results. We remain committed to sustaining these efforts to ensure even greater service delivery in the months ahead.”, he said.
