By Sandra Chukwunyere
Th Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has entered a new phase as Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila assumed office on Wednesday, pledging not only to sustain but surpass the achievements of his predecessor, Comptroller Wale Adenuga.
The leadership transition, held at the ECOWAS building at the Seme border, attracted widespread attention from stakeholders and officers, briefly slowing activities as traders, clearing agents, and logistics operators gathered to witness the handover.
In his maiden address, Kaila set an ambitious tone, promising to raise the Command’s performance to new heights. He commended Adenuga for laying a solid foundation and assured stakeholders of his determination to improve operational outcomes and set new benchmarks.
“My priority is to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance, and strengthen national security while ensuring we achieve even greater results,” Kaila said.
Adenuga, who has been redeployed to the Service Headquarters, described his transfer as a routine administrative process and urged stakeholders to give the new Controller their full cooperation to enable continuity and progress.
Stakeholders, however, believe Kaila’s task goes beyond maintaining the status quo. Many expressed confidence that the new Controller has the capacity to build on recent gains and deliver record-breaking performance in revenue generation, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling operations.
A logistics operator at the command, identified as Ojo, noted that Adenuga’s tenure brought rapid transformation, adding that expectations are now higher for the new leadership.
“In just six months, he changed the way business is done here. Now we expect even bigger improvements under the new Controller,” he said.
Newspoints247 resports that Kaila’s emphasis on efficiency, compliance, and security signals a readiness to push the Command beyond its current achievements. His success, they note, will depend on his ability to consolidate existing reforms while introducing innovative strategies to drive growth and operational excellence.
With strong expectations from stakeholders and a clear commitment to outperform past records, the Seme Border Command now looks set for a more competitive and result-driven era under Kaila’s leadership.
