Compt. Abdullahi Kaila handing over seizures to NDLEA officer recently
The strategic leadership pattern of Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, the Customs Area Controller at Seme Border Customs Command has continued to harvest positive results following recent achievements of the command in fighting smuggling, trade facilitation and revenue generation.
Addressing stakeholders and the media on Monday, he made it clear that “This briefing is convened to provide an overview of the Command’s operational activities and achievements in the areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling enforcement since my assumption of office in March 2026. These operational pillars remain central to the statutory responsibilities of the Nigeria Customs Service under the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, and are aligned with the economic reform agenda and national development priorities of the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
“I am pleased to inform you that the Seme Area Command has recorded a significant improvement in revenue performance within the period under review. From March 2026 to date, the Command generated a total revenue of ₦9,798,938,969.
According to him, “This represents an increase of ₦7,610,533,220, when compared to the sum of ₦2,188,405,749, collected within the corresponding period in 2025. The figure translates to an impressive growth rate of 448 percent.
Commenting on the feat, Compt. Kaila noted that “This remarkable achievement is attributable to strengthened compliance mechanisms, improved stakeholder cooperation, intensified anti-revenue leakage measures, enhanced operational efficiency, and the strategic deployment of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System. The renewed dedication, vigilance demonstrated by officers and men of the Command have also contributed immensely to this performance. We remain committed to sustaining these gains through institutional reforms, intelligence-driven monitoring, and transparent trade procedures capable of guaranteeing continuous revenue growth without obstructing legitimate trade activities.
On seizures, Business Hilights.ng reports that the Command recorded significant seizures of other To compliant traders and legitimate business operators, I wish to reiterate that compliance remains the safest, fastest, and most cost-effective pathway for conducting international trade. We encourage stakeholders to continue utilising our trade facilitation platforms and dispute-resolution mechanisms for seamless business operations.
prohibited and restricted goods in separate enforcement operations. These include 2,000 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 340 kegs of 25 litres each of foreign vegetable oil, 103 kegs of 30 litres each of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 993 cartons of foreign spaghetti, and 250 bales of used clothing and the Duty Paid Value of all the aforementioned intercepted items is 501,845,772 Naira. These seizures underscore the Command’s zero-tolerance stance against smuggling and reaffirm our determination to protect the nation’s economy, support local industries, preserve public safety, and enforce compliance with extant import and export regulations. Let me use this opportunity to issue a strong warning to smugglers and their collaborators that the Seme Area Command will not serve as a safe haven for illicit trade. The Command has significantly strengthened its intelligence network, enhanced surveillance capacity across land and maritime routes, and intensified collaboration with relevant security and regulatory agencies to combat trans-border crimes and economic sabotage.
