Oramalugo, Seme Customs Boss Hosts Reps Committee On Customs And Excise

BY FUNMI ALUKO

L-R: Hon. Abejide, Compt. Oramalugo and Sulaiman duringv the oversight meeting

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, on Monday, 7th April 2025, received the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise who were at the command on oversight visit, led by its Chairman, Rt Hon. Leke Abejide.

Hon. Abejide and Compt. Oramalugo in the latter’s office

Welcoming the delegation, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, Ph.D, described the lawmakers visit as a strong demonstration of their commitment to enhancing Customs administration, trade facilitation, and national revenue optimization.

The Command Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Isah Sulaiman told Pinnacle Time that Dr. Oramalugo while highlighting the strategic importance of the the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor reiterated the Command’s dedication to embracing the Joint Border Patrol (JBP) initiative in fostering  cooperation with neigbouring Republic of Benin, promotes intelligence sharing, and improves customs clearance through the one-stop border post model.

Giving the lawmakers a brief overview of the command’s activities, the Seme Customs boss according to Sulaiman noted that since assuming office on 11th February 2025, he has focused on four key mandates, namely, revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations, and inter-agency collaboration: adding that under his leadership, the Command has recorded significant achievements:

Revenue Generation: The Command generated One Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Six Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty-Five Naira and Eighty-Five Kobo (N1, 986,395,565.86k)  in the first quarter of 2025 through improved compliance, risk management, and enforcement.

Trade Facilitation: Export activities were notably boosted with over 96,000 metric tonnes of goods with a Free On Board value of Twenty Billion, Four hundred and Fifty-Four Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty-Two Naira and Eighty-Seven Kobo (N20, 454,888,432.87k) only, facilitated from January to March 2025.

Anti-Smuggling: From January to March 2025, several seizures were made  ranging from petroleum products, narcotics, foreign rice, poultry, vehicles, foreign parboiled rice and more with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of Eight Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, Seven Hundred Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty-Four Naira (N855,700,524.00k) only.

Oramalugo however, outlined several operational challenges faced by the Command, including poor infrastructure, shortage of personnel and equipment, lack of power supply for over Seven (7) years in the entire Seme axis, and ocean encroachment. He called for urgent government intervention, especially in technology deployment, environmental protection, and enforcement of contractual obligations on stalled projects.

Responding, the Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Rt. Hon. Leke Abejide, reaffirmed the Committee’s resolve to critically assess the operations, revenue performance and capital projects in line with the 2023 and 2024 budgetary approvals.

“We are here to check your books, operations, and ongoing projects to ensure alignment with appropriated funds and to determine areas for retention or removal in the 2025 budget,” Hon. Abejide stated.

He emphasized the need for the Command to provide data on revenue performance in relation to targets, impact of E-Customs and digital platforms and efforts made in suppressing smuggling and promoting Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.

Speaking further, Hon. Abejide noted that parliament appreciates the task of Customs officers and believes that their welfare is of utmost importance, noting that welfare of officers and men will be part of actionable needs for inclusion in the 2025 budget.

The visit concluded with mutual assurances of continued collaboration in strengthening the Nigeria Customs Service as a key driver of economic development, regional integration, and national security.