House of Reps Committee Visits Seme Border, Commends Customs on Revenue, Seizures
Seme, April 7, 2025 — The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on Monday played host to the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise during an official oversight visit aimed at assessing the Command’s performance and operational challenges.
The committee, led by its Chairman, Hon. Leke Abejide, arrived at the Seme border as part of the National Assembly’s constitutional mandate under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution, to evaluate government institutions and ensure accountability in budget implementation.
Welcoming the lawmakers, Comptroller of the Seme Command, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, PhD, expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as a reinforcement of the National Assembly's support for Customs modernization and improved border management.
Dr. Oramalugo highlighted the strategic relevance of the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post (JBP) located along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, describing it as a critical hub for regional trade integration. He emphasized the Command’s commitment to efficient cross-border cooperation with the Republic of Benin through the one-stop border model, aimed at streamlining clearance processes and boosting economic activity.
Since taking office on February 11, 2025, Comptroller Oramalugo said the Command has focused on four key areas: revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling enforcement, and inter-agency collaboration.
Key Achievements
According to him, the Command generated over N1.98 billion in the first quarter of 2025, driven by improved compliance, risk-based enforcement, and technology adoption. On the export front, more than 96,000 metric tonnes of goods were processed, with a Free on Board (FOB) value of N20.45 billion, between January and March 2025.
In the area of enforcement, Dr. Oramalugo reported the interception of petroleum products, narcotics, foreign parboiled rice, poultry, vehicles, and other contraband within the first quarter, with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N855.7 million.
Challenges and Appeals
The Customs boss, however, outlined several challenges affecting operations at the Seme border. These include poor infrastructure, equipment shortages, limited manpower, lack of electricity supply in the area for over seven years, and severe ocean encroachment threatening border facilities.
He appealed for government intervention in critical areas such as power restoration, technology deployment, environmental protection, and completion of abandoned projects.
Committee’s Response
In his remarks, Hon. Abejide commended the Command’s performance and reaffirmed the committee’s mission to ensure that allocated funds are properly utilized. He said the oversight tour was essential in reviewing capital projects and revenue performance in line with 2023 and 2024 budgetary provisions.
“We are here to evaluate your operations and project implementations to determine what will be retained, improved, or removed in the 2025 budget,” Abejide stated.
He urged the Command to provide comprehensive data on its revenue targets, digital transformation efforts under the E-Customs program, and anti-smuggling strategies. He also stressed the importance of prioritizing the welfare of officers and pledged legislative backing to address pressing operational challenges.
The visit concluded with assurances of enhanced collaboration between the legislature and the Nigeria Customs Service to advance trade facilitation, economic growth, and national security.
Isah Sulaiman, Chief Superintendent of Customs, PRO, Seme Area Command.
