By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service,NCS on Monday, April 7, 2025 received the house of representatives committee on Customs and excise.
In a statement by the Public Relations Officer Seme Area Command , CSC Isah Sulaiman , he explained that the visit is 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 led by the Chairman, Right Honourable Leke Abejide.
While welcoming the delegation, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Dr. Ben Oramalugo, PhD, 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 11th February 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 including:
*Revenue Generation*: The Command generated One Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Six Million , Three Hundred and Ninety-Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty-Five Naira and Eighty-Five Kobo (N1, 986,395,565.86k) in the first quarter of 2025 through improved compliance, risk management, and enforcement.
*Trade Facilitation*: Export activities were notably boosted with over 96,000 metric tonnes of goods with a Free On Board value of Twenty Billion, Four hundred and Fifty-Four Million, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, Four Hundred and Thirty-Two Naira and Eighty-Seven Kobo (N20, 454,888,432.87k) only, facilitated from January to March 2025.
*Anti-Smuggling*: 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 Eight Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, Seven Hundred Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty-Four Naira (N855,700,524.00k) only.
Comptroller Dr. Oramalugo, however, 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, Rt. Hon. 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,” Hon. 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, Hon. 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.
