By Sylva OBASI
The Customs Area Controller, Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller A.S Kaila has made a remarkable turnaround at the command, recording a staggering 448% increase in revenue in just two months of taking over at the command, even as he has also intercepted contraband goods worth over N500 million naira.
Speaking at his first press briefing on Monday since assuming office on March 18, 2026, Kaila announced that the Command generated ₦9.79 billion between March and May 2026, compared to ₦2.18 billion in the same period last year.
PLATFORM REPORTERS gathered that the ₦7.61 billion differential increase was driven by tighter transit compliance, stronger stakeholder collaboration, targeted anti-leakage strategies, improved efficiency, and the rollout of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, according to the area controller.
The Controller commended his officers for their professionalism and dedication, stressing that sustaining the growth will come through deeper institutional reforms, intelligence-led monitoring, and transparent trade procedures.
Kaila described Seme as one of Nigeria’s busiest and most strategic land borders, playing a central role in regional trade under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
To ease trade flow, the Command has intensified engagement with freight forwarders, licensed agents, transport unions, importers, exporters, traditional institutions, and other security agencies to cut bottlenecks and simplify clearance.
Beyond enforcement, officers are mentoring small and medium-scale enterprises on export documentation and compliance, supporting the Federal Government’s drive for economic diversification and non-oil exports.
On security, Kaila said the Command has sustained aggressive, intelligence-driven operations.
“In the last two months, patrols along the Seme-Badagry corridor led to the seizure of 800 parcels of suspected cannabis sativa, which will be handed to the NDLEA for prosecution.
“Officers also intercepted unregistered pharmaceuticals, including codeine-based cough syrups and sexual enhancement drugs lacking NAFDAC approval.
“Items seized included Ultimate Plus Maker Syrup, Super Sexy, Machine Man, Citrate tablets, Tramadol, and various herbal medicines.
“Other confiscated goods were 2,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 340 kegs of vegetable oil, 103 kegs of PMS, 993 cartons of foreign spaghetti, and 250 bales of used clothing. The total Duty Paid Value exceeded ₦500 million”, he revealed.
He however warned smugglers and their collaborators to desist, noting that the Command has strengthened intelligence gathering, surveillance, and inter-agency cooperation to tackle transborder crimes.
He urged compliant traders to embrace lawful trade, calling it the safest and most cost-effective route.
Kaila however thanked stakeholders, host communities, and the media for their support, and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment under Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to balance revenue generation with trade facilitation, border security, and national economic growth.
