The Chairman, House Committee on Customs, Hon. Abejide Leke has emphasised the need for the Nigeria Customs Service [ NCS] to provide comprehensive data on revenue performance relative to set targets, the impact of the E-Customs initiative, Integration of digital platforms, and efforts towards curbing smuggling and enhancing Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.
The Chairman House Committee on Customs, Hon. Leke Abejide, made the call when he went on an oversight visit to the Command, at Seme on Monday.
Abejide who reaffirmed the committee’s resolve to critically evaluate the command’s operations, revenue performance, and capital projects in line with the 2023 and 2024 budgetary provisions, explained that the welfare of Customs officers was of equal priority and charged the command to present actionable needs for inclusion in the 2025 budget
“We are here to review your records, assess your operations and inspect ongoing projects to ensure they align with allocated funds, and to determine which areas to retain or remove in the 2025 budget,” he said.
Earlier, the Controller, Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Dr. Benedict Oranalugo expressed commitment to the Joint Border Post (JBP) initiative, which he noted promotes cooperation with the Republic of Benin.
Dr. Oranalugo, who expressed the commitment in a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, Mr. Isah Sulaiman, on Tuesday in Badagry said the JBP fosters intelligence sharing and streamlines customs clearance through a one-stop border post model.
He described the JBP as a critical hub for regional trade along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor.
Oramalugo noted that since assuming leadership of the command, his focus had been on four key mandates: revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations, and inter-agency collaboration.
“Under my leadership, the command has recorded significant achievements,” he said.
“The command generated N1,986,395,565.86 in the first quarter of 2025 through enhanced compliance, effective risk management, and robust enforcement.
“Export activities also witnessed a boost, with over 96,000 metric tonnes of goods, valued at N20,454,888,432 (Free On Board), facilitated between January and March 2025.
He stated that in the fight against smuggling, several seizures were made within the period, including petroleum products, narcotics, foreign rice, poultry, vehicles, and more, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N855,700,524.”
The controller, however, highlighted several operational challenges confronting the command, to include poor infrastructure, insufficient personnel and equipment.
Others, according to him, are lack of power supply in the entire Seme axis for over seven years, and threats from ocean encroachment.(NAN)
.
