No stone is being left unturned by the ace revenue mobilizer and an uncompromising anti-smuggling Czar, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo PhD, to ensure that Seme Customs command join the league of billion naira generating commands.
As a precursor to achieving this, the command through impeccable commitment, worthwhile thoroughness and professionalism, generated a whopping revenue of Eight Hundred and Forty-Seven Million, Fifty-Eight Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy-Nine Naira, Thirty Kobo (N847,058,879.30k) in the month of April 2025. The amount is just about N153,000 less than a billion, which means that the dream a billion naira revenue is achievable in the following months under the watch of the indefatigable Comptroller Oramalugo.
Addressing the press at the headquarters of the command on Wednesday in Seme, the controller ascribed the achievement of the rising revenue to the sustained efforts at ensuring that all revenue leakages are blocked, and every legitimate kobo due to the Federal Government is collected without compromise.
As he recorded a very impressive revenue collection in April, the anti-smuggling supremo also achieved a superlative and unbeatable record in his anti-smuggling drive with total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of all seizures during the same month being Six Hundred and Sixty Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Thirty Six Naira (N669,785,236.00k) only.
Giving a breakdown of the seizures, the controller announced that on 28th March 2025, at about 2000hrs, operatives of the command on stop and search duty intercepted a motorcyclist suspected of conveying un-customs goods along Owode Road and that upon interception, the rider abandoned a Ghana-Must-Go bag and escaped.
He said that upon examination, the bag was found to contain various foreign coins, namely: Forty-Nine (49) pieces of Two-Dollar coins, One Thousand and Forty Eight (1,048) pieces of One-Pound coins, One Hundred and Thirty (130) pieces of 25 Canadian cents, Two Hundred and Thirty Six (236) pieces of Fifty Pence, Six Hundred and Forty Five (645) pieces of Twenty Pence, Four Hundred and Twenty (420) pieces of Ten Pence, Three Hundred and Seventy (370) pieces of Five Pence.
Similarly, he stated that on 1st April 2025, operatives intercepted a Mazda vehicle suspected of carrying smuggled items along the Badagry-Seme Expressway. After a thorough check, the vehicle was found to contain:
Nine Hundred and Forty (940) pieces of One-Pound coins, Eighty (80) pieces of Two-Pound coins, Three Hundred and Thirty Eight (338) pieces of Fifty Penny, Five Hundred and Forty (540) pieces of Twenty Penny and Seven Hundred and Eighty Five (785) pieces of Five Penny.
The controller gave the total value of these seized foreign coins as Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty One Naira (48,975,281.00k) only. He explained that these items are classified under Item 18 of Schedule 4 of the Common External Tariff (CET), which prohibits the importation of “Silver or Metal Alloy Coins not being legal tender in Nigeria”.
Again, Oramalugo revealed that in a related development, on 9th May 2025, the command’s operatives, acting on credible intelligence, intercepted a red Toyota Avensis with registration number GGE 667 JN along the Badagry-Lagos expressway which was found to be conveying Six (6) canisters of corrosive mercury suspected to be improvised explosive device concealed beneath five cartons of the Holy Qur’an. One suspect was arrested in connection with this seizure.
Other notable seizures during the period, according to the controller, include: Five Hundred and Fifty Three (553) parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana), One Thousand Four Hundred and Fifteen (1,415) bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each), Seven Hundred and Fifty (750) kegs of PMS (30kg each), Thirty (30) cartons of Tobacco, Fifty (50) cartons of Ketchup Tomato, One (1) boat and engine, Fifty (50) bales of second-hand clothing, Five (5) Vehicles (means of conveyance) and also unregistered pharmaceuticals, including Four Hundred and Twenty (420) bottles of CA-C100 Vitamin C and Haldol injection (5ml)
In line with the command’s commitment to inter-agency collaboration, the seized Cannabis Sativa, and unregistered pharmaceuticals were handed over to the Deputy Commandant of National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Seme Border Post and the Director, National Agency for Foods, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Seme respectfully for discreet investigative action and possible prosecution.
Dr. Oramalugo described the handover as highlighting the command’s readiness to work with sister agencies in safeguarding national security.
He also declared that in line with the Federal Government’s agenda on economic diversification through non-oil exports, the command facilitated the movement of Two Thousand and Twenty Nine (2,029) trucks, equivalent to over Eighty Eight Thousand metric tonnes (88,036.15) of made-in-Nigeria goods.
According to the controller, these exports had a Free On Board (FOB) value of Sixteen Billion, Nine Hundred Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty One Naira and Ten Kobo (16,900,987,331.10k) only. Furthermore, the command generated
Eighty Four Million, Five Hundred and Four Thousand, Nine Hundred and Ninety Six Naira and Sixty Six Kobo (N84,504,936.66k) as
National Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) fees.
He noted that the success recorded in export processing underscores the command’s role as a critical trade enabler and contributor to national economic growth through efficient border management and support to local manufacturers.
He used the opportunity to alert the general public on the activities of fraudsters who impersonate officers of the command, claiming to have auction vehicles for sale.
“These scammers often operate via social media and other informal platforms. The Command dissociates itself from any such illegal activity.
“Please note that the Nigeria Customs Service does not sell or auction seized items via WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, or any unverified platforms. Only follow verified social media handles bearing the official blue tick or any communication directly from the Nigeria Customs Service,” he warned.
The controller commended the gallantry of the officers and men of the Seme Area Command for their steadfastness, professionalism, and integrity while he thanked the stakeholders and partners, including the media, for their continued support and collaboration.
He reiterated the full commitment of the command to its mandate of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and suppression of smuggling.
Warning that the command shall not be deterred by mischief-makers or their propaganda, he stressed that the command will continue to work diligently in the interest of national economic development and security.
Oramalugo, in addition, appealed to parents and guardians residing in border communities to counsel their wards and youths to refrain from engaging in snuggling activities and to avoid being used as instruments to obstruct law enforcement officers in the discharge of their legitimate duties.