Seme Customs' revenue jumps 448% over two months

•Says smugglers behind fuel scarcity

By Providence Ayanfeoluwa & Efe Onodjae

The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, collected N9.79 billion between 18 March and 31 May 2026, a 448 percent rise over the N2.19 billion recorded in the same period of 2025.

During his first media briefing at the command, Area Controller Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila said the surge was due to stricter compliance checks, better collaboration with stakeholders, anti‑revenue leakage initiatives, increased operational efficiency, and the deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.

Kaila also blamed petrol smugglers for aggravating fuel shortages in parts of the country.

He reported that coordinated patrols and surveillance along the Seme‑Badagry corridor resulted in the seizure of 1,000 parcels of Cannabis Sativa. The narcotics will 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 that had not received approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

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

He reiterated the command’s commitment to maintaining revenue growth through institutional reforms, intelligence‑driven enforcement, and transparent trade procedures that do not impede legitimate business activities.

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

Kaila added that the command has 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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