By Steve Agbota
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service yesterday received the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, who were at the command for an oversight visit led by the Chairman, Leke Abejide.
This is even as the Command said it generated N1.986 billion in the first quarter of 2025.
The visit was part of the National Assembly’s statutory oversight responsibilities as enshrined in Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Welcoming the delegation, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dr Ben Oramalugo, expressed deep appreciation for the Committee’s presence, describing it as a strong demonstration of their commitment to enhancing Customs administration, trade facilitation, and national revenue optimization.
Comptroller Dr Oramalugo highlighted the strategic importance of the Joint Border Post (JBP) along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, which serves as a vital hub for regional trade.
He reiterated the Command’s dedication to embracing the JBP initiative, which fosters cooperation with the Republic of Benin, promotes intelligence sharing, and improves customs clearance through the one-stop border post model.
Since assuming office on February 11, 2025, the Comptroller has focused on four key mandates: revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations, and inter-agency collaboration. Under his leadership, the Command has recorded significant achievements.
According to the Customs boss, the Command generated N1, 986,395,565.86 in the first quarter of 2025 through improved compliance, risk management, and enforcement.
On trade facilitation, he said the command’s export activities were notably boosted with over 96,000 metric tonnes of goods with a Free On Board value of N20.454 billion facilitated from January to March 2025.
The area of anti-smuggling, he said that from January to March 2025, several seizures were made ranging from petroleum products, narcotics, foreign rice, poultry, vehicles, foreign parboiled rice and more with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N855.700 million.
However, he outlined several operational challenges faced by the Command, including poor infrastructure, shortage of personnel and equipment, lack of power supply for over seven (7) years in the entire Seme axis, and ocean encroachment.
He called for urgent government intervention, especially in technology deployment, environmental protection, and enforcement of contractual obligations on stalled projects.
Responding, the Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Leke Abejide, reaffirmed the Committee’s resolve to critically assess the operations, revenue performance and capital projects in line with the 2023 and 2024 budgetary approvals.
“We are here to check your books, operations, and ongoing projects to ensure alignment with appropriated funds and to determine areas for retention or removal in the 2025 budget,” Abejide stated.
He emphasized the need for the Command to provide data on revenue performance in relation to targets, impact of e-Customs and digital platforms and efforts made in suppressing smuggling and promoting Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
Furthermore, Abejide assured that the welfare of Customs officers is of equal priority, encouraging the Command to use the opportunity to present actionable needs for inclusion in the 2025 budget.
The visit concluded with mutual assurances of continued collaboration in strengthening the Nigeria Customs Service as a key driver of economic development, regional integration, and national security.
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