Seme Customs grows revenue by 448% in 2mths
Seme Customs Service Reports 448% Revenue Increase in Two Months
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Seme Area Command announced a revenue generation of 9.79 billion naira between March 18 and May 2026. This figure marks a significant 448% increase from the 2.19 billion naira collected during the same period in 2025.
In his first media briefing, Area Controller Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila credited the revenue surge to enhanced compliance measures, improved collaboration with stakeholders, and efforts to combat revenue leakage. He also highlighted the adoption of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System as a crucial factor in boosting operational efficiency.
Kaila pointed to the activities of petrol smugglers as a contributing factor to the ongoing fuel scarcity affecting various regions of the country. He stated that coordinated patrols and surveillance along the Seme-Badagry corridor led to the seizure of prohibited materials, including 1,000 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, which will be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation.
Additionally, the command intercepted unregistered pharmaceutical products, such as codeine-based cough syrups and sexual enhancement drugs lacking approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The seized items included cartons of Sildenafil Citrate drugs, herbal medicines, Tramaking, and Tempendol, which will also be forwarded to NAFDAC for regulatory action.
Kaila reiterated the command’s commitment to maintaining revenue growth through institutional reforms, intelligence-driven enforcement, and transparent trade processes while ensuring that legitimate business operations are not impeded.
He emphasized the strategic importance of the Seme border for regional trade under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The command has intensified its engagement with customs agents, freight forwarders, importers, and exporters to foster compliance, streamline clearance procedures, and encourage non-oil exports.
