Customs Seme Area Command Facilitates Export Worth N16.9b, Generates N8m Revenue in One Month
...Intercepts Explosives Concealed in Holy Quran, Unregistered pharmaceuticals, Metal Alloy Coins, others
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has facilitated the movement of 2,029 trucks, equivalent to over 88,036.15 metric tonnes of made-in-Nigeria goods with a Free On Board (FOB) value of N16,900,987,331.10k while a revenue of N847,058,879.30k was generated in the month of April 2025.
The Area Controller of the command, Ben Oramalugo who disclosed this to journalists during a press briefing on 14th May, 2025 at the command said the facilitation of the export is in line with the Federal Government’s agenda on economic diversification through non-oil exports, and the National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fees stood at N84,504,936.66k.
He reported that on 28th March 2025, at about 2000hrs, operatives of the Command on stop und search duty intercepted a motorcyclist suspected of conveying un-customs goods along Owode Road. Upon interception, the rider abandoned a Ghana-Must Go bag and escaped. During examination, the bag was found to contain various foreign coins, namely: 49 pieces of Two-Dollar coins, 1,048 pieces of One-Pound coins, 130 pieces of 29 Canadian cents, 236 pieces of Fifty Perica, 645 pieces of Twenty Pence, 420 pieces of Ten Pence, 379 pieces of Five Pence.
Similarly, on Ist April 2025, operatives of the command intercepted a Mazda, vehicle suspected of carrying smuggled items along the Badagry-Seme Expressway. After a thorough check, the vehicle was found to contain: 940 pieces of One-Pound coins, Eighty, 80 pieces of Two-Pound coins, 338 pieces of Fifty Penny, 540 pieces of Twenty Penny and 785 pieces of Five Penny.The total value of these seized foreign coins is N8,975,281.00k. These items are classified under Item 18 of Schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff (CET), which prohibits the importation of “Silver or Metal Alloy Coins not being legal tender in Nigeria”.
In a related development, Oramalugo said on 9th May 2025, officers of the command acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a red Toyota Avensis with registration number GGE 667 JN along the Badagry-Lagos expressway. The vehicle was found to be conveying 6 canisters of corrosive mercury suspected to be improvised explosive device concealed beneath five cartons of the Holy Quran. One suspect was arrested in connection with this seizure.
Other notable seizures during the period include: 553 parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), 1,415 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), 750 kegs of PMS (30kg each), 30 cartons of Tobacco, 50 cartons of Ketchup Tomato, 1boat and engine, 50 bales of second-hand clothing, Five 5 Vehicles (means of conveyance) and also Unregistered pharmaceuicals including 420 bottles of CA-C100 Vitamin C and Haldol injection (5ml).The total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all seizures during the period under review is N669,785,236.00k.
In line with the command’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, the Customs Seme Area Controller handed over the seized Cannabis Sativa, Corrosive Mercury canisters and unregistered pharmaceuticals to the relevant agencies for discreet investigative action and possible prosecution.
He appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Bashir Adewale Adeniyi , the Comptroller General of Customs who has made significant impact in the NCS and has won numerous awards.
“Let me use this opportunity to alert the general public on the activities of fraudsters who impersonate officers of the Seme Area Command, claiming to auction or sell vehicles. These scammers often operate via social media and other informal platforms. The Command dissociates itself from any such illegal activity.This underscores our role as a critical trade embler and continer to national economic growth through efficient border management and support to local manufacturers.
“I am alerting the general public on the activities of fraudsters who impersonate officers of the Seme Area Command, claiming to auction or sell vehicles. These scammers often operate via social media and other informal platforms. The Command dissociates itself from any such illegal activity.
“We remain fully committed to our mandate of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and suppression of smuggling. We shall not be deterred by mischief-makers or their propaganda. The Command will continue to work diligently in the interest of national economic development and security.
“We appeal to parents and guardians residing in border communities to counsel their wards and youths to refrain from engaging in smuggling activities and to avoid being used as instruments to obstruct law enforcement officers in the discharge of their legitimate duties.One out of seven Nigerians, between the ages of 15 and 25, are addicted to drugs. That’s why we make sure that we don’t allow these hard drugs to enter our country.
“I want to pay tribute to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Bashir Wale Adeniyi as CGC. He has done much for us.”
While receiving the unregistered pharmaceuticals, the Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mr Nurudeen Audu said the drugs are not registered , they are fake and injurious to the body.
“All these will not stop here. It will be taken to the appropriate place and we will do a diligent work to make sure that we take it along with other products to our destruction site.”
