Seme Customs Refutes Misleading Report

…Says Attempted Blackmail During Yuletide, Not Surprising

BY FUNMI ALUKO

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has dismissed what it described as a “misleading online publication” aimed at tarnishing its image, insisting that the report is baseless and should be disregarded by the public.

A statement signed by Chief Superintendent of Customs, Isah Sulaiman, the Command Public Relations Officer said the allegations were the handiwork of mischief makers whose illegal activities have been disrupted by intensified enforcement along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor.

“Since the assumption of office by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, in September 2025, enforcement activities along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor have been significantly strengthened through enhanced collaboration with the Nigerian Military and other sister security agencies. The reactivation of the Joint Border Security Meeting (JBSM) has further reinforced joint operations aimed at curbing smuggling.

“As enforcement intensifies during the yuletide season, the Command is aware that individuals whose illegal activities have been disrupted may resort to misinformation and sensational reporting. While these attempts are unsurprising, they will not distract the Command from carrying out its lawful duties”, the statement reads.

Reinvigorated enforcement and seizures, Sulaiman said has been on the upward swing between September and November 2025, as a result. This is even as he listed significant seizures recorded by the command to include the following:

*Over 4,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice (about seven trailer loads)

*Five trailer loads of expired flour

*Endangered species such as a lion cub and Patas monkeys, and  over 2,000 parcels of Cannabis Sativa (marijuana).

These operations, according to the Command, underscore its renewed drive to protect Nigeria’s economic interests.

The Command also reported a sharp rise in revenue collection under Comptroller Adenuga’s leadership. Monthly collections, previously averaging ₦500–₦600 million, surged to ₦1.5 billion in September and exceeded ₦2.5 billion in October — representing a growth of more than 300%. The increase was attributed to blocked leakages, stronger enforcement, and improved facilitation of legitimate trade.

Reaffirming its stance, the Command pledged to maintain professionalism, transparency, and zero tolerance for corruption. It assured the public that attempts at blackmail or misinformation would not derail its mission of safeguarding national security and facilitating lawful trade across the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.