Seme Customs Rides High With Statement Seizure Of 10,000 Bags Of Expired Flour, Makes Marginal Leap Of 1.5bn In Revenue
Seme Customs Rides High With Statement Seizure Of 10,000 Bags Of Expired Flour, Makes Marginal Leap Of 1.5bn In Revenue
…as Comptroller Adenuga declares legitimate trade facilitation as the hallmark of his administration
By Jerry Aguigbo
Exactly one month since taking charge at the Seme Customs Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga has hit the ground running with a quantum leap in revenue generation dwarfing the previous record within the same period in August, 2025.
According to the Controller, “under the renewed vigour inspired by the CGC’s leadership, the Command generated a total of One Billion, Five Hundred Million, Twenty-Nine Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty-Three Naira and Eighty-Eight Kobo (₦1,500,029,233.88) in September 2025, compared to Five Hundred and Thirty-One Million, Four Hundred and Sixty-Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-Two Naira and Forty-Five Kobo (₦531,462,332.45) only collected in August 2025, representing an exceptional increase of over 182%.
This outstanding performance reflects the effectiveness of the CGC’s reform agenda built on compliance, transparency and data-driven monitoring of goods as well as the dedication of officers and men who continue to embody his vision of a modern, efficient and accountable Customs Service.
The Seme Customs Command has also capped it’s revenue generation feat with an iron clad grip on Anti Smuggling, posting a
zero-tolerance stance on smuggling, even as it remains unwavering in its commitment to suppressing smuggling to protect national security, public health and economic stability.
Showcasing an assortment of seizures as he took the journalists round today at Seme Customs Command, Controller Adenuga explained:
“During the period under review, our operatives through credible intelligence and strong inter-agency collaboration, made significant seizures notably:
• Five (5) trucks conveying a total of 10,000 bags of expired flour originating from Egypt, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of One Billion, Two Hundred and Ten Million, Three Hundred Thousand Naira (₦1,210,300,000.00) only, intercepted in a joint operation with NAFDAC.”
He added that
the health risks associated with consuming such expired products could have led to severe infections, food poisoning, and long-term health complications.
Beyond health implications, such unwholesome goods undermine local industries and erode consumer trust.
One Thousand One Hundred and Four (1,104) parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) intercepted through actionable intelligence. The social and psychological toll of such substances on Nigerian youths cannot be overstated.
One Hundred and Twenty (120) packs of tramadol 120mg seized by the Customs operatives, with Two (2) suspects handed over to the NDLEA, Seme Command on October 7th, 2025 for further investigation.
Other seized items include:
2,043 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each)
150 bales of second-hand clothing
169 bottles of DSP Cough Syrup with Codeine
5 used vehicles.
He gave the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) for all seizures as One Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Nine Million, Ninety-Three Thousand, Four Hundred and Twenty-Nine Naira (₦1,999,093,429.00) only.
“These results underscore the CGC’s operational philosophy that smuggling is an economic sabotage that robs the nation of vital revenue and endangers public welfare. Our position is clear along the Lagos-Abidjan that any economic resource diverted into smuggling will be a colossal waste; it will be better to channel such resources into legitimate business that could empower thousands of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and create jobs.
He commended the Nigerian Navy for their sincerity of purpose collaborating with the Nigeria Customs Service.
“It is worthy of note to commend the Nigerian Armed Forces, especially the Nigerian Navy (NN), for their support in the fight against smuggling in this corridor. The NN FOB Badagry has demonstrated that we are partners in this fight against smuggling by severally handing over foreign parboiled rice intercepted and seized on the waterways and its surroundings, we really appreciate them for that.”
Also in alignment with the Federal Government’s drive to diversify the economy through non-oil exports and in direct compliance with the CGC’s directive to promote legitimate export trade, the Command facilitated the export of Fifty-Three Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-Nine Point Four Six Metric Tonnes (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 Naira and Seventy-Eight Kobo (₦7,969,376,198.78) only.
The total Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fee stood at Thirty-Nine Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty-Four Naira, Forty-Two Kobo (₦39,868,354.42) only.
These exports, the CAC said, comprise agricultural produce and manufactured goods and demonstrate the renewed confidence of exporters in the Seme Command as a viable trade hub under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS).
“Upon assumption of duty, and in line with the CGC’s strategic vision anchored on the policy thrust of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation, I declared Trade Facilitation as the hallmark of our administration. We believe that when trade is facilitated, processes are streamlined, costs are reduced and more revenue is generated.
On stakeholder engagement, Adenuga said, “in alignment with the CGC’s emphasis on stakeholder collaboration, the Command convened 2 major stakeholders’ engagements from 6–7 October, 2025. The first meeting brought together Heads of Security Agencies, traditional rulers, and critical stakeholders along the Seme–Krake corridor, where far-reaching resolutions were reached to address multiple checkpoints, extortion and other trade impediments.
All agencies reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating unnecessary checkpoints and ensuring the seamless movement of legitimate goods and persons without compromising national security. The second engagement involved our Benin Republic Customs counterparts, businessmen and licensed Customs agents from both sides of the border. This collaborative forum aimed to harmonize border operations and further strengthen the Lagos–Abidjan trade corridor, reflecting the CGC’s regional integration agenda.”
Furthermore, Adenuga stressed that the Seme Area Command remains resolute in balancing the triad of Revenue Generation, Trade Facilitation and National Security.
“We shall continue to enhance our operational efficiency through technology, stakeholder collaboration and proactive intelligence. Our collective mission is to ensure that the Seme-Krake border remains a gateway of prosperity not criminality.
Together with our partners and stakeholders, we are building a smarter, safer and more prosperous border corridor in full alignment with the CGC’s modernization blueprint.” He enthused.
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