The Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone ‘A’, Lagos, Assistant Controller General (ACG) Charles Orbih, has attributed recent revenue surge of the Service as a direct consequence of it’s transformation agenda.
The ACG made the assertion midweek, when he made a working visit to the Seme border Customs command.
He spoke just as the host, Customs Area Controller (CAC) of the frontier command, Dr Ben Oramalugo, lamented a seven year power outage and other infrastructure decay as constituting hindrance to seamless operations at the area.
Addressing men and officers of the Command, ACG 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 (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, whom he said, 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.
Others, he said, included the 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’.
The ACG further charged Officers and Men of the Command to continue to uphold professionalism, integrity, and innovation, stressing that the bar has been raised for the Zone.
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’.
The Zonal Coordinator 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.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Dr. Oramalugo, said the area has witnessed power outages for the past seven years, even as the command is plagued by other limitations such as poor access roads, inefficient cargo scanners as well as the unbridled porosity of the entire border area.
In a press release by the spokesman of the command, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC), Isah Sulaimoan, the CAC however emphasised ongoing advocacy for infrastructure upgrades, deployment of modern surveillance tools, and deeper collaboration with sister security agencies and local communities to address these concerns.
Welcoming the Zonal Coordinator and his entourage to the command, Comptroller Oramalugo 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’.
He presented a detailed overview of the Command’s mandates and achievements in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations, trade facilitation and border security.
He disclosed that between January and May 2025, 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 highlighted the Command’s 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.
