The outgoing Customs Area Controller of Seme Area Command, Abdullahi Kaila, has recently been elevated to the rank of Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs and appointed a member of the Management of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Kaila, has handed over to Deputy Comptroller Olisa Alumanah
During his roughly seven-and-a-half-month tenure, Seme Area Command generated over ₦27 billion in revenue between March and October 2026. This compared with approximately ₦8 billion collected in the corresponding period of 2025 shows an increase of about ₦19 billion, which represents about 233 per cent.
Kaila attributed the performance to improved compliance, stronger operational coordination, effective monitoring of trade, enhanced enforcement of Customs regulations, and the collective efforts of officers and stakeholders. He dedicated the achievement to every officer and staff member who contributed to the revenue drive, while also acknowledging the cooperation of the business community.
On the enforcement front, the Command recorded significant seizures of illicit drugs and prohibited goods. Kaila said these interceptions, driven by intelligence gathering, proper processing and timely sharing of actionable information, helped prevent dangerous and unwholesome products from entering the country.
He singled out inter-agency collaboration as one of the Command’s greatest operational strengths. As Chairman of the Joint Border Security Committee, he worked closely with the Department of State Services, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NAFDAC, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, Port Health Services and other agencies.ACG Kaila appealed to the sister agencies to extend the same spirit of cooperation to his successor.
Kaila also thanked traditional rulers, community leaders, traders, transport operators, licensed Customs agents and other stakeholders for their support, stressing that the border must remain a gateway for lawful economic activities.
He congratulated the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Olisa Alumanah, and urged officers and men to remain united, disciplined and professional, noting that the uniform they wear represents an institution entrusted with protecting Nigeria’s economic interests, security and sovereignty.
“Positions may change, responsibilities may increase and individuals may move on, but the values that sustain an institution must remain constant,” Kaila said. “Discipline, integrity, teamwork, professionalism and commitment to national service must continue to define our conduct.”
He left with a prayer for continued guidance for the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service, strength for its officers, and peace and prosperity for the Seme border community.
As Comptroller then, Kaila assumed duty at the strategic land border command on 18 March 2026, which coincidentally was a Wednesday and handed over on Wednesday 11 November 2026. He expressed gratitude to God and to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for the confidence reposed in him.
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