Deputy Comptroller Olisa Alumanah has assumed duty as Acting Controller of the Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, succeeding Abdullahi Kaila, who was recently elevated to Assistant Comptroller-General.
Taking charge on Wednesday, Alumanah advised officers against misconduct, abuse of office, revenue leakages, unnecessary delays in clearing processes, and any form of intimidation of legitimate traders and agents. He made clear that his leadership would not tolerate indiscipline, compromise, or practices that undermine revenue collection or the Service’s core mandate.
He outlined his main priorities as stronger revenue performance, smoother trade facilitation, intelligence-driven enforcement, strict discipline, professionalism, and closer cooperation with stakeholders. Officers were directed to collect every legitimate duty owed to the Federal Government, close loopholes that allow revenue loss, prevent undervaluation, and enforce export rules rigorously.
“There will be no room for compromise, negligence or any action that short-changes the government. Our focus must remain on revenue generation, transparency and accountability,” he stated.
On facilitation, Alumanah stressed that officers must avoid delaying legitimate trade, making unauthorised demands, or intimidating stakeholders. He noted that Customs work is not limited to collecting revenue and enforcing compliance; it also includes enabling lawful economic activity that supports national growth. Revenue collection and trade facilitation, he said, should reinforce each other.
He further emphasised that rank, position or personal relationships would not protect any officer from accountability, and that discipline and professional conduct form the foundation of the command. Officers were urged to work as a team, place the Service’s interests above personal ones, and maintain productive partnerships with other government agencies, border communities, transporters, licensed agents, importers and exporters — without allowing collaboration to become a cover for compromise.
Alumanah pledged to support officers who perform their duties honestly and professionally, while making clear he would not protect anyone engaged in deliberate wrongdoing. He also called on personnel to adopt modern tools, technology, innovation and continuous training to raise operational standards.
He thanked Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for the confidence shown in him and promised to build on the work of his predecessor while delivering measurable results. “I have not come here to work against anyone. I have come to work with you. I will provide professional leadership, and together we will move this Command forward,” he said.
Earlier, outgoing Controller (now ACG) Abdullahi Kaila reported that the command collected more than ₦27 billion between March and October 2026, compared with ₦8 billion in the same period of 2025 — an increase of roughly ₦19 billion, or about 233 percent growth. He attributed the performance to improved compliance, better monitoring, intelligence work, stronger coordination and the efforts of officers. Significant seizures of illicit drugs and prohibited goods were also recorded during his seven-month tenure through surveillance and coordinated operations.
Kaila expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General for his promotion and thanked officers, sister agencies, traditional institutions and stakeholders for their support. He appealed for the same level of cooperation to be extended to his successor.
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