Seme Customs grows revenue by 448% in 2mths 

•Says smugglers behind fuel scarcity

By Providence Ayanfeoluwa & Efe Onodjae

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Seme Area Command, generated N9.79 billion between March 18 and May 2026, representing a 448 per cent increase compared to the N2.19 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

Speaking during his first media briefing at the command, the Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, attributed the increase to stronger compliance measures, improved stakeholder collaboration, anti-revenue leakage efforts, enhanced operational efficiency and deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.

Kaila also blamed activities of petrol smugglers for worsening fuel scarcity in parts of the country.

He disclosed that coordinated patrols and surveillance operations along the Seme-Badagry corridor led to the seizure of prohibited items, including 1,000 parcels of Cannabis Sativa. He said the narcotics would be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, for further investigation.

The command also intercepted unregistered pharmaceutical products, including codeine-based cough syrups and sexual enhancement drugs without approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.

Among the seized products were cartons of Sildenafil Citrate drugs, herbal medicines, Tramaking and Tempendol. Kaila said the items would be transferred to NAFDAC for regulatory action.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining revenue growth through institutional reforms, intelligence-driven enforcement and transparent trade procedures without hindering legitimate business activities.

According to him, the Seme border remains strategic to regional trade integration under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA.

Kaila added that the command had intensified engagement with customs agents, freight forwarders, importers, exporters and other stakeholders to improve compliance, simplify clearance procedures and support non-oil exports.

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