The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a remarkable leap in its revenue performance, generating a total of ₦1.5 billion in September 2025, representing an increase of over 182 percent compared to ₦531 million collected in August 2025.
The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, disclosed this on 9th October, 2025, during his maiden media briefing on the operational activities of the Command held at the COWA Complex, Seme Border.
He said the command generated a total of One Billion, Five Hundred Million, Twenty-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty-Three Naira and Eighty-Eight Kobo (₦1,500,029,233.88) in September 2025, compared to Five Hundred and Thirty-One Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-Two Naira and Forty-Five Kobo (₦531,462,332.45) only collected in August 2025, representing an exceptional increase of over 182%.
Adenuga, who assumed duty on September 8, 2025, described the feat as a clear demonstration of the impact of the reform driven leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose policy thrust of Consolidation, Collaboration, and Innovation continues to inspire renewed commitment across formations.
He explained that the remarkable surge in revenue was achieved through the Command’s focus on trade facilitation, enhanced compliance monitoring, and a deliberate effort to streamline clearance procedures along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor.
Beyond revenue generation, he said the command has also keyed into the federal Government’s drive to diversify the economy through non-oil exports. Adenuga revealed that the Command facilitated the export of Fifty-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Nine Point Four Six Metric Tonnes (53,989.46) metric tonnes of goods with a Free on Board (FOB) value of Seven Billion, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Nine Million, Three Hundred and Seventy-Six Thousand, One Hundred and Ninety-Eight Naira and Seventy-Eight Kobo (₦7,969,376,198.78) only and a total Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fee stood at Thirty-Nine Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty-Four Naira, Forty-Two Kobo (₦39,868,354.42) only.
He noted that the exports, which comprised agricultural produce and manufactured goods, underscore the growing confidence of exporters in the Seme border as a strategic trade hub under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS).
On anti-smuggling efforts, Adenuga reiterated the Command’s zero-tolerance posture, stating that the fight against economic sabotage remains a core priority. He confirmed that within the period under review, the Command made several high-profile seizures, including five (5) trucks conveying a total of 10,000 bags of expired flour originating from Egypt, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Billion, Two Hundred and Ten Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira (₦1,210,300,000.00) only, intercepted in a joint operation with NAFDAC. One Thousand One Hundred and Four (1,104) parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) intercepted through actionable intelligence and One Hundred and Twenty (120) packs of tramadol 120mg seized by operatives of the Command with Two (2) suspects were handed over to the NDLEA, Seme Command on October 7th, 2025 for further investigation.
Other seized items he said included 2,043 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each) 150 bales of second-hand clothing , 169 bottles of DSP Cough Syrup with Codeine , 5 used vehicles and the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) for all seizures stands at One Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Ninety-Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-Nine Naira (₦1,999,093,429.00) only.
He stressed that such operations were made possible through credible intelligence and strong inter-agency cooperation, especially with agencies such as the Nigerian Navy, NDLEA, NAFDAC, and DSS, among others.
In line with the CGC’s emphasis on stakeholder collaboration, he said the Command held a two-day stakeholders’ engagement from 6–7 October 2025, bringing together security agencies, traditional rulers, Benin Republic Customs officials, and business operators along the corridor. The meetings, according to Adenuga, addressed key trade impediments such as multiple checkpoints and extortion while reaffirming the commitment of all parties to ensure seamless border operations.
The CAC pledged continued commitment to the CGC’s vision of balancing revenue generation, trade facilitation, and national security. He also assured stakeholders that the Command would continue to deploy technology, intelligence, and inter-agency synergy to sustain the momentum.
Adenuga commended the CGC and his management team for their support, while commending officers and men of the Command for their dedication and professionalism. He also lauded the military, police, and sister agencies, as well as community leaders and the people of Badagry, for their cooperation in ensuring effective border management.
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