Adenuga Takes Charge at Seme Customs, Pledges Trade-Friendly Leadership
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, has marked a seamless change of leadership as Comptroller Wale Adenuga officially assumed duty at the ECOWAS Joint Border Post, Seme-Krake.
The handover ceremony, held yesterday, drew senior officials from sister security agencies, trade and transport stakeholders, community leaders, and members of the media.
In his inaugural remarks, Comptroller Adenuga commended the outgoing Controller for his accomplishments and promised to build on them, with trade facilitation at the heart of his agenda. “Trade facilitation is my keyword,” he declared.
“When stakeholders make proper declarations, their consignments will leave Customs control within the shortest possible time. The more we facilitate trade, the more revenue we generate and the less smuggling we have,” he added.
He assured stakeholders of close collaboration with agencies including the DSS, Nigeria Police, Immigration, NDLEA, Nigerian Military, NAFDAC, and others to reduce crime and create a business-friendly environment. Adenuga also pledged open communication with traditional rulers, youth groups in Badagry, and the press, noting that “his doors remain open.”
Promising to “lead from the front,” the new Area Controller stressed that officers under his command must remain disciplined, committed, and uncompromising in their duties.
He further acknowledged the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), who also serves as President of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, and vowed to make him proud through exemplary performance.
In his farewell speech, outgoing Area Controller ACG Oramalugo described the day as one of mixed emotions, gratitude for God’s faithfulness and his promotion, yet nostalgia for the bonds he built while at Seme.
He outlined his achievements, including sustained anti-smuggling operations with major seizures of prohibited goods, improved revenue generation, strengthened trade facilitation, and enhanced inter-agency collaboration.
Oramalugo expressed appreciation to the CGC and NCS management, thanked officers for their loyalty and discipline, and urged stakeholders to give “even greater support” to his successor.
The ceremony also featured goodwill messages from heads of sister agencies and stakeholders, including Immigration, the Nigeria Shippers’ Council, NDLEA, and FRSC.
It ended with a collective pledge of synergy to boost revenue, curb smuggling, strengthen security, and enhance seamless trade at the Seme Border under Comptroller Adenuga’s watch.
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