Compt Oramalugo Applauded For Operational Excellence and Infrastructure Upgrades

... Generates N3. 57 Billion Between January and May 2025

Kathy Kyari

The Zonal Coordinator of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone A Lagos, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Charles Orbih, paid a working visit to the Seme Area Command on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

The visit, held at the ECOWAS Joint Border Post, Seme-Krake, aimed to assess the Command’s operations, interact with personnel, and align strategic objectives across the Zone.

In a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SC Isah Suleiman, the CAC, Compt Ben Oramalugo revealed that between January and May 2025, the Seme Command generated over ₦3.57 billion in revenue and facilitated the export of 220,300 metric tonnes of consignments, valued at ₦47 billion Free on Board (FOB).

The CAC presented a comprehensive overview of the Command’s performance in key areas, including revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations, trade facilitation, and border security.

Oramalugo also highlighted the Command’s anti-smuggling efforts, which resulted in seizures worth ₦889 million. Among the intercepted items were expired pharmaceuticals, marijuana, and corrosive mercury, all of which were handed over to relevant security agencies for further investigation.

Despite these achievements, the CAC acknowledged several persistent challenges, including a seven year power outage, poor road infrastructure, non-functional scanning equipment, and border porosity.

He emphasized the Command’s ongoing advocacy for infrastructural upgrades, deployment of modern surveillance tools, and stronger collaboration with sister security agencies and local communities to address these issues.

Oramalugo expressed his appreciation for the visit, describing it as both a morale booster and a reaffirmation of the ACG’s dedication to operational excellence and oversight.

“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,” Oramalugo stated.

In his response, ACG Charles Orbih commended the Seme Command’s leadership for undertaking projects such as the renovation of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) building, the upgrade of the sports complex, and the commissioning of the officers’ mess.

He described these efforts as reflective of 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 further highlighted the Zone’s significant contribution to national revenue, noting that Zone A was responsible for 79.8% of the NCS’s ₦1.3 trillion revenue collection in the first quarter of 2025.

He also spoke on the Service’s modernization drive, citing key initiatives such as the Advance Ruling System, the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programme, and the B’Odogwu platform, Nigeria’s indigenous Customs clearance system.

According to Orbih, the NCS’s 2025 operational strategy is guided by seven strategic focus areas which include trade modernization, enhanced risk management, the 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 and stakeholder engagement. He noted that these efforts were already yielding positive outcomes.

ACG Orbih expressed strong confidence in the ability of the Seme Command and other units within Zone A to not only maintain but surpass their current performance in service to the nation, while charging officers and men of the Seme Command to continue demonstrating professionalism, integrity, and innovation.

“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,” he said. “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.”