The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service recorded a 233 per cent increase in revenue collection between March and October 2026, generating more than ₦27 billion compared with ₦8 billion collected during the corresponding period of 2025.
The revenue performance was disclosed during a leadership transition at the Command on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, as Deputy Comptroller Olisa Alumanah assumed duty as Acting Customs Area Controller following the elevation of his predecessor, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, to Acting Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs.
Kaila, who served at the border command for approximately eight months, attributed the revenue growth and anti-smuggling achievements recorded during his tenure to intelligence-led operations, improved surveillance, effective information sharing and the commitment of officers to preventing cross-border economic crimes.
He said the Command generated over ₦27 billion between March and October 2026, representing an increase of ₦19 billion over the ₦8 billion recorded during the same period in 2025.
In his farewell remarks, Kaila expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the Service’s management for the opportunity to serve at Seme and his subsequent elevation.
He urged officers to sustain their commitment to discipline, integrity, accountability, loyalty and professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Taking over the Command, Alumanah pledged to consolidate the achievements recorded under his predecessor and strengthen operational efficiency, revenue collection and trade facilitation.
He acknowledged Kaila’s contributions to improving revenue performance, intelligence collaboration and efforts against smuggling and other forms of cross-border criminality.
The new Acting Area Controller identified seven priority areas for his administration: revenue collection; facilitation of legitimate trade; discipline, integrity and professional conduct; teamwork and collective responsibility; collaboration with stakeholders and sister agencies; avoidance of unnecessary problems in the discharge of duties; and modernisation, innovation and global best practices.
Alumanah also stressed the strategic importance of Seme in Nigeria’s border management architecture, reaffirming his commitment to strengthening inter-agency cooperation and maintaining operational stability.
The Head of Benin Customs and Co-Chair of the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, Col. Mekoun Parfait, congratulated Kaila on his elevation, describing his appointment less than a year after assuming duty at Seme as recognition of his competence, experience and professionalism.
The leadership transition ended with Alumanah reaffirming his determination to sustain the Command’s achievements through discipline, teamwork, stronger stakeholder engagement and improved service delivery.