Seme Customs Revenue Jumps 24.45% To N19.84bn, Intercepts 3,300 Explosive Cartridges

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has generated N19.84 billion revenue between January and July 2026, representing a 24.45 per cent increase over the N15.94 billion collected in the entire 2025 fiscal year.

The Command also intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the Seme border corridor, alongside expired food products, illicit drugs, foreign rice and other prohibited items with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N365.16 million.

The Seme Area Controller, Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, disclosed this yesterday during a press briefing at the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos State.

Kaila said the Command generated N15.94billion in 2025, but recorded N19.84billion in revenue within the first seven months of 2026.

According to him, the latest figure means the Command has already surpassed its full-year 2025 revenue by N3.899 billion, representing a 24.45 per cent increase.

He attributed the improved revenue performance to enhanced compliance, stronger stakeholder engagement, improved operational efficiency and intensified enforcement against smuggling.

“Effective enforcement and efficient trade facilitation are complementary responsibilities,” Kaila said, stressing that the Command would continue to facilitate legitimate trade while denying smugglers opportunities to undermine the economy.

On enforcement, the Customs Area Controller disclosed that officers intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the border corridor.

He said the seizure represented a significant national security intervention, given the potential of such materials to facilitate violent crimes if they fell into the hands of criminal elements.

Due to the sensitive nature of the seizure, Kaila said the explosive materials, alongside one suspect, had already been handed over to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit of the Nigeria Police Force for safe custody and further investigation.

The Command also intercepted 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, following credible intelligence and surveillance.

Kaila said the truck carrying the consignment had been deceptively declared as conveying food items, but thorough examination by Customs officers revealed the expired noodles.

He said intelligence indicated that the products were allegedly intended to be repackaged and relabelled for sale to unsuspecting consumers in Nigeria.

According to him, the interception prevented potentially harmful food products from entering the Nigerian market and underscored the role of border enforcement in protecting public health.

The Command also seized 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, weighing 50 kilogrammes each, which were smuggled into the country through illegal routes.

Kaila said the illegal importation not only deprived the government of legitimate revenue but also undermined local rice production and the Federal Government’s agricultural policies.

In the area of illicit drugs and harmful substances, the Command intercepted 373 parcels of Cannabis Sativa, 90 packs of Tramaking 250mg, 69 packs of Royal Tapentadol 250mg and 310,000 sticks of Time/Yes cigarettes.

The Customs boss said the seizures had disrupted illicit supply chains and prevented dangerous substances and unregulated products from reaching Nigerian communities.

He added that the illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products would be formally handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further investigation and necessary action.

Other items seized by the Command include one used speedboat, one used water bike, one 2017 Toyota Land Cruiser, one 2016 Toyota RAV4 and one 2010 Nissan Versa.

Kaila warned smugglers and other economic saboteurs that the Command had intensified intelligence-driven operations and would continue to collaborate with sister security agencies to frustrate criminal activities along the border corridor.

“To those engaged in smuggling activities, our message remains unequivocal: Seme is no longer a safe corridor for economic sabotage,” he said.

He said the Command remained committed to supporting the Federal Government’s economic reforms, facilitating compliant trade and promoting regional commerce under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Kaila commended sister security and regulatory agencies for their cooperation and intelligence sharing, while also appreciating the media for its role in informing the public and promoting transparency and accountability in Customs operations.