…Generates N3.57bn Revenue, facilitates 220,300 metric tonnes of export goods in five months
ZAINAB JUNAID
The Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone A, Assistant Comptroller General Charles Orbih, has commended Seme Area Command’s impressive performance, infrastructural improvement, and urged its personnel to sustain the tempo of professionalism, integrity and innovation.
ACG Orbih gave the commendation during a working visit to the Command’s Headquarters at the ECOWAS Joint Border Post, Seme-Krake, on Wednesday, 25 June 2025.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Command’s Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman for the Customs Area Controller.
According to the statement, the visit was aimed at assessing the Command’s operations, engaging the officers and aligning strategic goals across the Zone.
Receiving the Zonal Coordinator, the Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo PhD, expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as a morale booster and a reaffirmation of the ACG’s commitment to operational excellence and oversight.
He said, “Your presence today is a testament to your commitment to strengthen the operations of the Zone, ensuring that the Commands and Units deliver their mandates as enshrined in the extant laws.”
Highlighting the achievements of the Command from January to May 2025, Dr. Ben told the ACG that the Command generated over ₦3.57 billion in revenue and facilitated export consignments of 220,300 metric tonnes, valued at ₦47 billion Free on Board (FOB).
He also recounted anti-smuggling efforts that resulted in seizures worth ₦889 million, including the interception of expired pharmaceuticals, marijuana and corrosive mercury, which were handed over to the relevant security agencies for further investigation.
The CAC also notified the ACG of several challenges facing the Command, including Seven (7) year power outage, poor road infrastructure, non-functional scanning equipment, and border porosity.
He equally drew his attention to the ongoing advocacy for infrastructure upgrades, deployment of modern surveillance tools, and deeper collaboration with sister security agencies and local communities to address these concerns.
In his remarks, ACG Charles Orbih lauded the leadership of the Seme Area Command for initiatives such as the renovation of the COWA building, upgrading of the sports complex, and the recent commissioning of the officers’ mess. He described these projects as symbolic of the Command’s alignment with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, who has anchored the Service’s transformation agenda on Consolidation, Collaboration, and Innovation.
ACG Orbih highlighted the Zone’s impressive contributions to national revenue, noting that the Zone accounted for 79.8% of the NCS’s ₦1.3 trillion revenue collection in the first quarter of 2025.
He also reaffirmed the Service’s modernization journey through initiatives such as the Advance Ruling System, Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programme, and B’Odogwu platform, the indigenous Customs Clearance system.
He further noted that the Service’s operational strategy for 2025 is guided by Seven (7) strategic focus areas, including trade modernization, enhanced risk management, operationalization of the NCS University, strengthening International partnerships under the AfCFTA framework, implementation of a robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy and promotion of open governance through increased transparency framework and stakeholder engagement.
According to him, these initiatives are already producing commendable outcomes.
Concluding his visit, ACG Orbih charged Officers and Men of the Command to continue upholding professionalism, integrity, and innovation, stressing that the bar has been raised for Zone A.
In his words, “As we move forward, the bar has been set higher for Zone ‘A’. Our previous achievements, impressive as they are, should serve as stepping stones rather than resting points.
“We must leverage our strategic importance to push beyond these accomplishments, innovating and adapting to meet the evolving demands of our nation’s economy and security needs.”
He expressed confidence in the ability of Seme Command and other Units under the Zone to not only sustain but surpass current achievements in service to the nation.
