Customs Rakes in N743M in February, Seizes Smuggled Goods

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command recently announced that it generated N743 million in revenue for February, a major achievement in its efforts to improve national income and curb illegal trade.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Isah Suleiman, shared the details.

“As part of its core mandate of revenue generation, the command generated a total revenue of N743 million for February,” the statement read in part.

Speaking on the revenue, the Customs Area Controller, Dr. Ban Oramalugo, explained that this success reflects the command’s dedication to ensuring that all revenue due to the government is collected without any leaks. He further revealed that an additional N2.4 million was collected as surcharges for the same period.

Oramalugo emphasized that the command is not only focused on revenue collection but also on making trade smoother and more transparent. According to him, his leadership has introduced new strategies to improve revenue, make trading easier, prevent smuggling, and work closely with other government agencies.

These efforts, he said, align with the overall vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who has stressed the need for stronger partnerships to stop smuggling and boost border security.

On the issue of smuggling, Oramalugo disclosed that several illegal goods were seized during the month.

Providing a breakdown, he revealed that officers intercepted 444 parcels of cannabis sativa (marijuana), 181 packs of tramadol, 600 bottles of codeine syrup (100ml each), and 240 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. Other seized items include 1,809 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 17 sacks of second-hand shoes, 56 bales of used clothing, and 203 pieces of used tires.

“The total duty-paid value of the seized items was N267 million,” he added.

He explained that these seizures violated the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023, and that the command remains committed to stopping smuggling in the Seme border area.

With approval from the Comptroller-General of Customs, the confiscated cannabis was handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) as part of an ongoing partnership between government agencies.

Oramalugo also stressed that working closely with stakeholders is key to achieving security and trade goals.

“I have engaged key stakeholders, including traditional rulers and security agencies, to foster strong relationships, reinforce security measures, and promote seamless trade facilitation in the region,” he said.

He added that these discussions have helped improve intelligence-sharing, making the command more effective in protecting national security, enforcing trade regulations, and reducing smuggling.

“Our mission at Seme Area Command extends beyond revenue collection to encompass national security and economic growth, which are best achieved through strong institutional partnerships,” he stated.

To improve operations, the command has also undergone an internal restructuring, where officers were strategically reassigned to strengthen border security, enhance monitoring, and boost accountability in revenue collection.

“The command’s achievements within this short period are the result of unwavering support from the Comptroller-General of Customs and his management team, the dedication and professionalism of our officers, the effective deployment of intelligence-driven strategies, robust inter-agency collaboration, and stakeholder engagement,” he said.

While the command has made good progress, Oramalugo assured that more efforts will be made to work with community leaders, strengthen patrols to stop smuggling, and use advanced intelligence to dismantle illegal trade networks.

He sent a strong warning to smugglers, making it clear that illegal activities will not be tolerated. He advised them to focus on legitimate business instead of engaging in crimes that weaken the economy.

Finally, Oramalugo noted that the strategies introduced to enhance cooperation, improve efficiency, increase revenue, and fight smuggling are already producing great results.

“We remain committed to sustaining these efforts to ensure even greater service delivery in the months ahead,” he said.