Oramalugo Laments Threat To Local Rice Production Through Unapproved Importation

…As Seme Customs Intercepts 5 Offensive Trucks, Marijuana

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has announced sweeping operational successes between 1st July and  19th July 2025, showcasing its resilience against smuggling and its strategic role in trade facilitation and revenue generation.

Speaking at a press briefing held on Thursday in Seme, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo PhD detailed a series of high-profile interceptions carried out by his team along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor, and other unapproved routes doting the border communities. Within just 18 days from July 1 to 19, five trucks laden with prohibited items—including 2,800 bags of foreign parboiled rice and 250 bales of second-hand clothing—were confiscated, with a combined value of ₦919.5 million.

Other notable seizures recorded within the period under review include 898 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 1,319 bags of foreign rice, 40 bags of sugar and 64 bags of flour, 50 cartons of tomato ketchup, and a boat(means of conveyance), second-hand clothing, and used shoes with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦1.27 billion.

Also in a major fiscal win, the Command generated ₦1.59 billion in revenue for May and June alone. Also supporting Nigeria’s non-oil export agenda, the Command processed over 116,000 metric tonnes of made-in-Nigeria products with a free on board (FOB) value of ₦22.37 billion.

Comptroller Oramalugo praised the dedication of his officers and the Nigerian military’s support. He also applauded the Comptroller-General’s strategic provision of 12 patrol vehicles, which he said has enhanced border security and enforcement efficiency.

He explained that rice importation through land borders remains banned to protect Nigeria’s agricultural sector, and warned those involved to desist.

“Seme Area Command is not, and will never be, a fertile ground for smugglers.

By patronizing foreign rice, we are creating foreign jobs and empowering foreign economics to the detriment of our own.

“Our own lives local rice don’t get adequate demand and the farmers and millers who invest heavily in the rice industry are losing out to foreign competitors.

“Our government has continued to support the production of local rice and has designed policies to protect local entrepreneurs. That is why the Nigeria Customs is also fully involved in helping to protect this important agricultural sector”, he said.

While reassuring legitimate traders of a safe trading environment, he also reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to protect national economic interests.