By Benson Daniel
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service generated N19.84 billion in revenue between January and July 2026, surpassing the N15.94 billion collected throughout the whole of 2025.
The seven month performance represents an increase of N3.9 billion, or 24.45 per cent, compared with the command’s revenue for the entire previous year. The figure was disclosed by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, during a briefing at the Seme border in Badagry, Lagos State.
Kaila attributed the improved revenue performance to increased compliance among traders, stronger engagement with stakeholders and improved operational efficiency at the border.
He said the results demonstrated that effective enforcement could be combined with trade facilitation without undermining legitimate commercial activities.
The revenue achievement came alongside intensified efforts by the command to tackle smuggling and other forms of cross border criminal activity. Customs officers intercepted prohibited and restricted goods with a combined Duty Paid Value of N365.16 million during the period under review.
Among the major seizures were 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials, which Customs said were being illegally conveyed through the border corridor. The items were handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation.
The command also intercepted 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes. According to Customs, the consignment had been falsely declared as food items and was intercepted following intelligence and surveillance operations.
The noodles were reportedly in a deteriorated condition, with Customs officials alleging that they were intended to be repackaged and relabelled before being introduced into the Nigerian market.
Other seizures included 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, pharmaceutical products, 310,000 sticks of cigarettes and several vehicles and watercraft allegedly connected with smuggling activities.
Kaila said the seizure of the foreign rice was important not only for preventing revenue leakage but also for supporting domestic agricultural production. He noted that illegal importation undermines local farmers and businesses while depriving the government of legitimate duties.
The Customs Area Controller stressed that border enforcement was not limited to revenue collection, saying the agency also had a responsibility to protect national security, public health and domestic industries.
He said the command would continue to combine intelligence driven enforcement with measures designed to make legitimate trade easier for compliant businesses operating through the Seme corridor.
The revenue performance also comes as Nigeria seeks to strengthen regional commerce and take greater advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area. The Seme border remains an important trade corridor linking Nigeria with neighbouring countries in West Africa.
Kaila assured legitimate traders that the command would continue working to provide an enabling environment for lawful businesses while intensifying efforts against smugglers and other operators involved in economic sabotage.
The latest figures underline the growing contribution of the Seme Area Command to government revenue and demonstrate the potential for improved border management to support both trade facilitation and revenue mobilisation.
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