Seme Customs Records Historic Revenue Surge in 2025, Hits ₦15.6bn as Anti-Smuggling, Trade Reforms Pay Off
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, recorded unprecedented revenue milestones in 2025, posting its highest-ever monthly and annual collections since the Command’s inception, driven by trade facilitation reforms and strengthened enforcement operations.
In December 2025 alone, the Command generated a historic ₦3,628,485,590.00, the highest monthly revenue ever recorded. The achievement was attributed to the effective rollout of the One-Stop Shop (OSS) initiative by the Comptroller-General of Customs, which has enhanced coordination, reduced bottlenecks, and improved service delivery for cross-border trade stakeholders.
Overall, between January and December 2025, the Seme Area Command generated a total revenue of ₦15,598,945,794.00, representing a remarkable 117 per cent increase over the ₦7,166,576,397.49 recorded in 2024.
Beyond revenue generation, the Command also recorded notable social impact interventions. On 11 November 2025, it hosted the launch of the Green Border Initiative by the National President of the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi.
The programme featured an empowerment initiative for members of the COWA Seme Chapter, with the distribution of industrial sewing machines, grinding machines, gas burners with cylinders, and start-up grants.
On the same day, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, launched a free medical outreach under the Customs Cares Initiative, which delivered essential healthcare services to over 1,000 beneficiaries, alongside a tree-planting exercise aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.
In line with the Comptroller-General’s directive on trade facilitation, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, successfully reduced checkpoints along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor to the two locations approved by the Federal Government, a move that significantly eased legitimate trade, minimised delays, and contributed to the Command’s strong revenue performance.
Despite the trade-friendly reforms, the Command maintained a firm stance against smuggling. In December 2025, officers recorded major seizures, including 685 parcels of Cannabis sativa (marijuana), 495 packs of Tramadol, and 2,000 packs of Super Power Sildenafil tablets (300mg)—an excessively high-dosage sexual enhancement drug. The seizures were made through intelligence-led operations, enhanced patrols, risk profiling, and inter-agency collaboration.
Comptroller Adenuga warned that “the Seme borders are no longer safe for illicit activities,” stressing that with advanced intelligence, technology and unwavering vigilance, officers of the Command would “intercept and prosecute offenders.” He advised smugglers to “desist immediately or face the full weight of the law.”
The CAC assured legitimate traders and compliant stakeholders of “a safe, conducive and efficiently facilitated Seme corridor,” with seamless processes and reduced delays to support genuine cross-border commerce and economic growth.
Comptroller Adenuga expressed profound gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, and the Customs Management for their steadfast support and leadership.
He also commended the officers and men of the Command, stakeholders, sister agencies, military and paramilitary forces, the media, as well as traditional and community leaders for their invaluable contributions, while pledging even greater achievements in 2026.
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