By Femi Anamelechi
The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, has refuted a misleading social media publication circulating online. The Area Command described it as unfounded and aimed at misinforming the public about the conduct of officers along the Seme border Area Command The Public Relations Officer of Seme Area Command, Chief Superintendent of Customs Isah Sulaiman in a Press Statement on Monday said the Command “categorically disassociates itself from the said report”, urging the public to disregard it in its entirety. Chief Superintendent isah Suleiman in the statement succinctly pointed out that, since the assumption of office by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, in September 2025, enforcement activities along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor have been significantly strengthened. This renewed vigour, it said, is the result of enhanced collaboration with the Nigerian military and other sister security agencies, including the reactivation of the Joint Border Security Meeting (JBSM), which has boosted joint operations against smuggling.The Command noted that as the yuletide season approaches and enforcement is intensified, individuals whose illegal activities are disrupted often resort to malicious and sensational reports aimed at misinforming unsuspecting Public.
“These attempts are unsurprising but will not distract the Command from carrying out its lawful duties”, the statement added.The statement disclosed breakdown of recent enforcement achievements, between 9 September 2025 to date, point out major seizures of five trailer loads of expired flour, more than 4,000 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice (equivalent to about seven trailer loads) alongside endangered species including a lion cub and Patas monkeys, and over 2,000 parcels of cannabis sativa. These seizures, the Command said, underscore its renewed drive to protect Nigeria’s economic and security of the boaders .The statement also highlighted significant improvements in revenue collection under Comptroller Adenuga. Monthly revenue figures, previously averaging between ₦500 million and ₦600 million, surged to over ₦1.5 billion in September and exceeded ₦2.5 billion in October, an increase of more than 300 percent. The Command attributed the increased revenue collection to blocked leakages, stronger enforcement, and improved facilitation of legitimate trade. Seme Area Command further reassured of the their commitment to professionalism, transparency, and zero tolerance for corruption, and pledged to sustain its efforts in safeguarding national security and facilitating lawful trade along the busy Lagos–Abidjan corridor.
