Customs at Seme Records N1.5bn Revenue, Nabs Two Smugglers, Seizes Expired Flour and Drugs

According to information released by the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) Seme border command, the federal government received N1,500,029,233.88 in revenue in September 2025.
During the period under review, the Command also revealed that it enabled the export of products valued at N7,969,376,198.78.

According to Comptroller A.O. Adenuga, the command’s Customs Area Controller (CAC), who made this announcement at a press briefing in Lagos, the command also stopped and seized five trucks carrying 10,000 bags of expired flour that came from Egypt and had a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,210,300,000. In a joint operation with NAFDAC, 1,104 parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) were intercepted through actionable intelligence, he added.
The Customs chief also said that 2,043 bags of foreign parboiled rice weighing 50 kg each, 150 bales of old textiles, 169 bottles of DSP cough syrup with codeine, and five used cars were among the other things confiscated.
He merely provided N1,999,093,429.00 as the amount.

“I extend a hearty welcome to everyone attending the inaugural press briefing of the Seme Area Command,” stated Comptroller Adenuga. The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and his distinguished management team have graciously placed their trust in me, and I am truly honored to take on the leadership of this Command. I formally assumed this role on September 8, 2025. This is a significant chance for me to give an overview of my leadership and to discuss the progress we have made as a team over this brief but exciting time. With the help of the Comptroller General of Customs’ vision and reform-oriented mentality, as well as the commitment and professionalism of this Command’s officers and men, we have made impressive progress in carrying out our primary missions.

In keeping with the CGC’s strategic vision, which is based on the policy thrust of Consolidation, Collaboration, and Innovation, he stated that upon taking office, he made trade facilitation the defining feature of his administration. He did this because he believed that facilitating trade would streamline procedures, lower costs, and increase revenue.

Under the direction of the CGC’s dedication to modernization and transparency, the Seme Area Command has stepped up its efforts to streamline processes, improve interagency coordination, and guarantee that lawful traders take full advantage of regional integration and customs modernization along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor.
According to Compt. Adenuga, the command generated a total of One Billion, Five Hundred Million, Twenty-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty-Three Naira, and Eighty-Eight Kobo (N1,500,029,233.88) in September 2025 under the renewed vigor inspired by the CGC’s leadership. This is in contrast to the five hundred and thirty-one million, four hundred and sixty-two thousand, three hundred and thirty-two Naira, and forty-five kobo N531,462,332.45 only collected in August 2025.

This exceptional performance demonstrates the success of the CGC’s reform plan, which is based on compliance, openness, and data-driven goods monitoring, as well as the commitment of the officers and men who still uphold his goal of a contemporary, functional, and accountable Customs Service.
The Comptroller stated that the Command facilitated the export of fifty-three thousand, nine hundred and eighty-nine point four six (53,989.46) metric tonnes of goods with a Free on Board (FOB) value of seven billion, nine hundred and sixty-nine million, three hundred and seventy-six thousand, one hundred and ninety-eight thousand naira, and seventy-eight kobo (N7,969,376,198.78). This was in accordance with the Federal Government’s efforts to diversify the economy through non-oil exports and in direct compliance with the CGC’s directive to promote legitimate export trade.

Agricultural produce and manufactured goods were among the exports that showed the renewed confidence of exporters in the Seme command as a viable trade hub under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS). He pointed out that the total Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fee was N39,868,354.42 (N39,868,354.42).
Under the direction of the CGC’s zero-tolerance policy on smuggling, Seme Command is steadfast in its resolve to combat smuggling and safeguard economic stability, public health, and national security, Adenuga stated.

Through reliable intelligence and effective interagency cooperation, our agents made important seizures during the reviewed period. In particular, five (5) trucks carrying 10,000 bags of expired flour from Egypt with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N1,210,300,000.00 (N1,210,300,000.00) only were intercepted in a joint operation with NAFDAC.

The dangers of eating such spoiled goods might have resulted in serious illnesses, food poisoning, and chronic health issues.

Such unhealthy products damage local businesses and destroy consumer confidence in addition to having negative health effects.
Actionable intelligence led to the interception of 1,104 packages of Cannabis Sativa, also known as marijuana. One cannot stress how detrimental these chemicals are to our children’s social and psychological development.
On October 7, 2025, two (2) suspects were turned over to the NDLEA, Seme command for additional investigation after our agents confiscated 120 packs of 120 mg tramadol.

Additional confiscated commodities include: 150 bales of used clothing, 169 bottles of DSP Cough Syrup with Codeine, 5, used cars, and 2,043 bags of imported parboiled rice (50 kg each).
He said that the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) for all seizures was N1,999,093,429.00, or one billion, nine hundred and ninety-nine million, ninety-three thousand, 429.00 Naira.

The CGC’s operational theory that smuggling is an economic sabotage that deprives the country of essential revenue and jeopardizes public welfare is reinforced by these findings. We have made it plain along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor that any financial resources diverted into smuggling would be a huge waste; instead, they should be directed on legal ventures that might empower thousands of SMEs and provide employment.

The Nigerian Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Navy (NN), deserve special recognition for their assistance in the battle against smuggling in this corridor. We greatly appreciate the NN FOB Badagry’s several handovers of foreign parboiled rice that was captured and confiscated on the waterways and their environs, demonstrating our cooperation in the battle against smuggling.

In keeping with the CGC’s focus on stakeholder participation, the command organized two significant stakeholder interactions on October 6–7, 2025. During the first meeting, which included traditional leaders, heads of security agencies, and important players along the Seme–Krake corridor, comprehensive resolutions were achieved to address extortion, numerous roadblocks, and other trade barriers.

The elimination of pointless checks and the smooth flow of lawful people and products without jeopardizing national security were pledged by all agencies. Our Benin Republic customs counterparts, businesspeople, and authorized customs officers from both sides of the border participated in the second engagement. This joint forum, which reflected the CGC’s regional integration objective, sought to further fortify the Lagos–Abidjan economic corridor and coordinate border operations.

Under the visionary leadership of CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, the Seme Area Command is steadfast in maintaining a balance between the three pillars of national security, trade facilitation, and revenue generation.

“We’ll keep using technology, stakeholder cooperation, and proactive intelligence to improve our operational efficiency. Making ensuring the Seme-Krake border continues to be a doorway to prosperity rather than crime is our shared goal.

“We are constructing a smarter, safer, and more lucrative border corridor in complete accordance with the CGC’s modernization vision, working hand in hand with our partners and stakeholders.

“I want to sincerely thank the entire management team and Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, for their steadfast support, inspirational leadership, and priceless mentoring.

For their ongoing cooperation, I also want to express my gratitude to the Military, the NPF, DSS, NAFDAC, SON, and other pertinent security agencies. For their outstanding collaboration and participation, I also want to express my sincere gratitude to the traditional chiefs and community leaders, as well as the good citizens of Badagry Local Government.

“I also commend our steadfast partners in progress, the diligent members of the press.”

Our success as a team is still fueled by the dedication, hard work, and quality of our esteemed stakeholders and, most importantly, the men and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command. All of you are greatly valued. Our commitment to serving with honor and distinction is strengthened by your unwavering dedication, which continues to inspire this Command’s accomplishments,” Comptroller Adenuga exclaimed.