Seme Customs Records Revenue Leap from N517m to N4.1bn as Adenuga Hands Over, Kaila Pledges Consolidation
Kathy Kyari
The newly appointed Area Controller of the Seme-Krake Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, has pledged to consolidate on existing gains and deepen operational efficiency, as he formally took over leadership on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, following a remarkable tenure by his predecessor, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, who recorded a revenue increase from N517 million to N4.1 billion.
Comptroller Kaila made this known during the official handover ceremony where he outlined his vision for the command, emphasizing professionalism, discipline, and collaboration as key drivers of success.
Speaking during the ceremony, Comptroller Adenuga reflected on his time in office, describing it as a journey marked by collaboration, divine guidance, and measurable progress.
“Anything that has a beginning must have an end, I was sitting down here six months ago when I was taking over and now I'm stepping out. We have built a family kind of relationship,” he said.
He noted that despite initial uncertainty, the command was able to record significant milestones through collective effort and strategic direction.
“We came into Seme, we did not know where to start, but God was leading and directing us. And at the end of the day, God was able to use all of us to achieve what we achieved in Seme. Is it in terms of revenue, if we can take the revenue of Seme from N517million to as at today N4.1billion. It was not by our strength,” Adenuga stated.
The outgoing controller also highlighted reforms in border operations, particularly the reduction of security checkpoints to facilitate smoother movement across the corridor.
“We sat down here under the joint border security meeting and decided we would reduce the security checkpoints and the checkpoints were considerably reduced from a certain number to a paltry number that you can even travel within a short time,” he said.
Emphasizing inter-agency collaboration, he added, “I told my colleagues today, everything we achieved was a joint effort — from the military, to other sister agencies, custom.”
On trade facilitation, Adenuga disclosed that the command recorded impressive performance during its last engagement with regional stakeholders.
“The last meeting we had was with the ECOWAS, Seme had 98 percent in trade facilitation,” he noted.
He urged officers, stakeholders, and partners to extend the same level of support to his successor.
“Please maximally extend every cooperation extended to me to my successor. Anywhere you think you can chip in an advice, please send it to him. He is a gentleman and he's ready to listen,” he appealed.
In his acceptance speech, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, commended his predecessor for laying a solid foundation and assured stakeholders of continuity and improved performance.
"We thank you and appreciate you for your leadership, for the foundation you laid for the continuous success of this command. We acknowledge and recognize your contributions towards revenue generation, trade facilitations and suppression of smuggling. We are going to consolidate on the positive gains you recorded here in Seme so that by the time you get back you will surely be proud of us," he said.
Kaila described the command as strategically vital to Nigeria’s economy, stressing the importance of unity and professionalism among officers.
"To the officers and men of this command, I am highly honoured and eager to work with you, but one thing I know is, the task ahead of us is enormous, why? because of the sensitivity and the strategic position of this command, and because of the importance of this command to the nation's economy."
He expressed confidence that greater milestones would be achieved through teamwork.
"However, I want to believe that with unity, discipline and dedication to work, we are going to achieve a greater milestone. So I urge you all officers of this command to remain committed to the core mandates of the NCS."
Outlining his administrative focus, Kaila said, “As I reported here, my administration is going to focus on professionalism, discipline, intelligence driven enforcement, transparency, reputation management, border security and effective collaboration with all stakeholders.”
He also pledged to boost revenue generation and facilitate legitimate trade.
“We are going to strengthen our operational strategy to ensure that all government revenue due for this country is realized. We will also try as much as we can to see that we promote legitimate trade,” he said.
Addressing stakeholders, Kaila promised an inclusive approach.
“To our stakeholders, I want to tell you that we are going to maintain an open door policy, we will try as much as we can to ensure compliance with customs extant regulations. And we will do everything possible to encourage and provide support in order to facilitate legitimate business activities on this border.”
He reaffirmed commitment to inter-agency collaboration, noting its importance to national security.
“To our security sister agencies, I assure you that we are going to consolidate on the already existing relationships between us. We in the Nigeria Customs Service as clearly exhibited by my predecessor, we believe that collective cooperation is essential to national security and economic stability,” he said.
Kaila also appealed for community support, drawing on his long-standing connection to the area.
“To our community leaders, I will not call myself as an indigene of Badagry, but most sincerely, I have lived more than 90 percent of my life as a custom officer in Badagry. What I need from you as members of the community is support. Actually, you have been supporting me. This is the time that I need it more. And I believe I'll get it from you.”
He further acknowledged the role of the media in the command’s success.
“To our press, I have to thank you not only for the wonderful job you've been doing here in Seme, but also for the entire NCS. It was as a result of your contributions that Wale was able to take this command to this level. I hope you extend the same to me,” he added.
As he formally assumed office, Kaila called for collective commitment to achieving his mandate.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as I'm taking over today as the new Area Controller of this command, I am seeking your support and cooperation from each custom officer and men serving here in Seme, security agency, stakeholders, community members. Most sincerely, I came with a mandate and I want to achieve this mandate. And I have that faith in me all of you will be on the same page with me. Because your interest is my interest.”
The ceremony also featured goodwill messages from sister agencies, stakeholders, and community representatives, who commended Adenuga’s leadership.
Among them, Group Captain Humphrey Medugu described the outgoing controller as an exemplary officer.
He said Comptroller Adenuga is “a fine senior custom officer who has portrayed the NCS in very good light,” adding that “the outgoing Comptroller has left a very indelible mark at the command, and the mark left would stand the test of time.”
Medugu wished him success in his new assignment and encouraged him to sustain his standard of excellence.
0 Comments