Seme Customs revenue jumps 448% to N9.8bn
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), says it has recorded a sharp increase in revenue generation, collecting N9.79 billion between March and May 2026.
It said the development highlights growing trade activities and improved compliance along Nigeria’s busiest land border corridor.
The Customs Area Controller, Abdullahi Kaila, disclosed this during a media briefing at the command headquarters on Monday, noting that the figure represents a 448 per cent increase compared to the N2.18 billion generated during the corresponding period in 2025.
According to him, the revenue growth reflects strengthened compliance systems, intensified anti-revenue leakage measures, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
“The development signals increasing efficiency in customs operations at the Seme border, one of West Africa’s key trade gateways under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.
Kaila further said the command had deepened collaboration with freight forwarders, licensed customs agents, transport unions, importers, exporters, and other stakeholders to simplify cargo clearance procedures and improve regulatory compliance.
He added that the command had also intensified support for Small and Medium Enterprises involved in export trade through guidance on export documentation and cross-border trade requirements.
Freight Forwarders operating at the border are of the opinion that the improved customs performance could strengthen non-oil revenue generation for the Federal Government while enhancing investor confidence in Nigeria’s regional trade framework.
Beyond revenue generation, the command also ramped up anti-smuggling operations to protect local industries and safeguard public health.
The controller disclosed that the command intercepted 1,000 parcels of Cannabis Sativa and several unregistered pharmaceutical products, including codeine-based syrups and sexual enhancement drugs without approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
Other seized goods included 2,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 993 cartons of foreign spaghetti, vegetable oil, Premium Motor Spirit, and used clothing with a combined Duty Paid Value of N501.8 million.
Kaila reiterated the command’s commitment to balancing revenue generation with seamless trade facilitation, stressing that legitimate businesses would continue to benefit from transparent procedures and dispute-resolution mechanisms.
He also warned smugglers and economic saboteurs that the command had strengthened intelligence gathering and surveillance operations across the Seme-Badagry corridor and adjoining maritime routes.
The Seme Area Command operates under the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose reforms are aimed at improving customs efficiency, boosting non-oil revenue, and supporting Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
المصدر: Daily Trust (NG)