Kaila Resets Seme Border Revenue Trajectory, Records 448% Surge, Makes ₦501m Seizures

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has announced a dramatic leap in revenue generation and a string of high-profile anti-smuggling operations, underscoring its growing role in Nigeria’s economic reform agenda and border security enforcement.

At a media briefing held on Monday, May 25, 2026, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila revealed that the Command raked in an impressive ₦9.79 billion between March and May 2026. This marks a staggering 448 percent increase compared to ₦2.18 billion collected during the same period in 2025. Kaila attributed the feat to tighter compliance measures, improved stakeholder cooperation, and the deployment of the innovative B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.

“This remarkable achievement is a product of strengthened compliance, vigilance of our officers, and enhanced operational efficiency. We remain committed to sustaining these gains without obstructing legitimate trade,” Kaila stated.

The Seme Area Command, one of Nigeria’s busiest land border posts, plays a pivotal role in regional trade under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area. Kaila emphasized ongoing consultations with customs agents, freight forwarders, transport unions, and exporters to simplify clearance procedures and boost Nigeria’s non-oil export drive.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have particularly benefited from guidance on export documentation and compliance, aligning with the Federal Government’s diversification agenda and efforts to improve Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business ranking.

In just two months, the Command intercepted a haul of illicit goods along the Seme-Badagry corridor. Among the seizures were the following:

-Cannabis Sativa: 1,000 parcels, handed over to the NDLEA for prosecution.

-Unregistered pharmaceuticals: Including codeine-based syrups and sexual enhancement drugs lacking NAFDAC certification.

-Other contraband: 2,000 bags of foreign rice, 340 kegs of vegetable oil, 103 kegs of petrol, 993 cartons of spaghetti, and 250 bales of used clothing.

The Duty Paid Value of these seizures stands at ₦501.8 million. Kaila warned smugglers that the Command will not serve as a safe haven for illicit trade, stressing that intelligence networks and surveillance capacity have been significantly strengthened.

Kaila commended his officers for their resilience and discipline, while appreciating stakeholders and host communities for their cooperation. He reaffirmed that the NCS under Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi remains committed to balancing revenue generation with trade facilitation, border security, and national development.

“Compliance remains the safest, fastest, and most cost-effective pathway for conducting international trade,” Kaila advised traders, urging them to embrace lawful business practices.

The ₦9.79 billion generated in just two months represents a vital injection into government coffers at a time when Nigeria is striving to diversify revenue sources beyond oil. Such performance strengthens fiscal stability, providing resources for infrastructure, social services, and debt management. It also demonstrates how customs reforms can directly support President Tinubu’s economic agenda.