NCS STRENTHENS BORDER SECURITY AS SEME COMMAND FACILITATES OVER ₦7 BILLION WORTH OF EXPORT.
Dr. Oramalugo making his presentation at the briefing.
Story by Dili Utomi.
In line with the policy of consolidation, collaboration and innovation of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service have continued to strive to keep up with the dictates of their mandates which are the protection of the national economy, trade facilitation and revenue generation.
These and more were stated as the motivating factors by the Customs Area Controller of the Seme Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Ben Oramalugo while having his very first press briefing as the head of the Command. He noted that these factors and the great working environment give them the impetus to put in their best in their daily responsibilities at the Command.
Dr. Oramalugo declared at the press briefing on Thursday that the Command has made significant strides in revenue generation, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling operations, noting that as part of its core mandate of Revenue Generation, the Command has generated a total revenue of more that ₦743,728,652.16k only for the month of February 2025.
The Customs Area Controller, who announced key operational successes since assuming office on February 11, 2025 while speaking with newsmen during this maiden media briefing also noted that the Command facilitated the export of over 28,000 metric tonnes of goods equivalent to 806 trucks with a Free On Board (FOB) value of N7,852,172,249.00k.
He listed the seized items to include, 444 parcels of cannabis sativa (marijuana), 181 packs of tramadol, 600 bottles of codeine syrup and 1,809 bags of smuggled rice (50kg each). Others are 240 kegs of petroleum motor spirit (PMS) and 17 sacks of used shoes, 56 bales of used clothes, and 203 pieces of used tyres. The total Duty Paid Value (DV) of the seizures is N267,054,172.00k only.
Dr. Oramalugo with a sample of the seized cannabis sativa, to his left is FO Dinneys of the NDLEA.
Some bags of the seized foreign parboiled rice on display.
Dr. Oramalugo outlined strategic initiatives aimed at boosting operational efficiency, including the redeployment of officers for enhanced border surveillance. He emphasised that inter-agency collaborations, engagement with traditional rulers, and intelligence-sharing mechanisms have been instrumental in strengthening national security.
The CAC added that the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service have never had it so good since inception of the then Customs and Excise Department in 1861. He continues to praise the professional input of the Comptroller-General of Customs and his intelligent approach to staff motivation and welfare since his assumption of office.
Dr. Oramalugo vows that there are two basic things that he can never compromise on as a Customs officer, namely the importation of substandard drugs and the importation of weapons and ammunition, he urges everyone to aid the NCS to bring the importation of uncustomed goods into the country to the barest minimum if not totally eradicated.
The CAC also used the occasion of the event to hand over all the seized drugs to the Commander of Narcotics, Seme Area Command of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), F O. Dinneys who described the Nigeria Customs Service as “an indespensable ally as far as the fight against illegal importation of drugs and other harmful substances into the country are concerned, they (NCS) have been collaborating with us”.
He warns smugglers and their collaborators that their illegal activities will not be tolerated. Dr. Oramalugo thanked the stakeholders, traditional rulers and the media for their support and contribution in making sure that the fight against illicit trade is sustained and yielding the kind of results as seen on the day.
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