Command generates ₦19.84bn revenue in seven months, surpassing 2025 full-year collection by ₦3.9bn
By Suleiman Aremu | Solaremnews
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has intercepted 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials, illicit drugs, foreign rice and other smuggled items with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦365.16 million.
The Customs Area Controller of the Seme Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, disclosed this on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, during a press briefing at the Seme Border in Badagry, Lagos State.
Kaila said the seizures were the outcome of intelligence-driven operations and sustained surveillance by officers and men of the Command, stressing that the enforcement activities were aimed at protecting national security, public health, local industries and the Nigerian economy.
According to him, the Command intercepted a truck which was deceptively declared to be carrying food items but was subsequently found to contain 1,306 sacks of expired and waste noodles, each weighing 50 kilogrammes.
He said many of the noodles had deteriorated and were visibly decomposing, while intelligence gathered by the Command indicated that the products were intended to be repackaged, relabelled and introduced into the Nigerian market for unsuspecting consumers.
The Customs boss warned that the successful entry of the products into the country could have exposed Nigerians to serious health hazards, including food poisoning, gastrointestinal diseases and other potentially life-threatening complications.
He described the interception as an example of the role of border security in protecting public health, noting that the action had prevented potentially harmful food products from reaching Nigerian families.
Kaila further disclosed that the Command, during separate enforcement operations across various flashpoints within its area of responsibility, intercepted 1,268 bags of foreign parboiled rice, each weighing 50 kilogrammes, which were smuggled through illegal routes.
He said the illicit importation of rice not only deprived the government of legitimate revenue but also undermined its agricultural policies, discouraged local rice production and threatened the livelihoods of Nigerian farmers.
On the fight against illicit drugs and harmful substances, the Customs Area Controller said 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.
Kaila said the intercepted substances posed serious risks to public safety and the well-being of Nigerians, particularly young people.
He added that illicit drugs were often associated with cultism, armed robbery, violent crimes and other social vices, while smuggled cigarettes evade health regulations, statutory duties and approved quality standards.
He said the seizures had helped to disrupt criminal supply chains and prevent the dangerous substances from reaching communities across the country.
The Seme Customs Command also intercepted 3,300 cartridges of explosive materials being illegally conveyed through the border corridor.
Kaila described the seizure as one of the most sensitive and significant interceptions recorded by the Command, warning that such materials could have devastating consequences if they fell into the hands of criminal elements.
According to him, the explosives had the potential to facilitate terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes capable of threatening national peace and security.
He attributed the success to the vigilance and professionalism of Customs officers, as well as intelligence sharing and collaboration with sister security agencies.
The explosives, he disclosed, had already been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit for safe custody and further investigation, alongside one suspect.
In its continued efforts to protect the economy and frustrate smuggling activities, the Command also intercepted one used speedboat, one used water bike, one used Toyota Land Cruiser 2017 model, one used Toyota RAV4 2016 model and one used Nissan Versa 2010 model.
The total Duty Paid Value of all the items displayed by the Command was put at ₦365,163,709.
Kaila warned smugglers and other economic saboteurs that the Seme corridor would no longer provide a safe passage for illicit activities.
He, however, stressed that enforcement was only one aspect of the Command’s statutory responsibilities, noting that the Customs Service remained committed to facilitating legitimate trade and generating revenue for national development.
The Seme Area Command generated ₦15,941,258,676.01 in 2025, while its revenue collection between January and July 2026 stood at ₦19,840,280,788.50.
The figure means that the Command surpassed its entire 2025 revenue collection by ₦3,899,022,112.49 within the first seven months of 2026, representing a 24.45 per cent increase.
The Customs Area Controller attributed the improved revenue performance to enhanced compliance, stronger engagement with stakeholders and increased operational efficiency.
He maintained that effective enforcement and trade facilitation were complementary responsibilities, assuring compliant traders that the Command would continue to create an enabling environment for legitimate businesses to operate with ease and predictability.
Kaila said the Command remained committed to supporting the economic reforms of the Federal Government, promoting regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), facilitating compliant cross-border trade and ensuring that smugglers had no safe haven within its area of responsibility.
He disclosed that the illicit drugs and unregistered pharmaceutical products seized by the Command 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.
He commended sister security and regulatory agencies for their cooperation, intelligence sharing and commitment to national security.
The Customs boss also acknowledged the role of the media in informing the public and projecting the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service, describing journalists as important partners in promoting transparency, accountability and public confidence in the Service.
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