…commends stakeholders for decline in crime rate
By AGATHA N Uju, Correspondent, Abuja
The Customs Area Controller Seme Area Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, has announced that the Command generated N3,480,970,924.67 in revenue for the month of February 2026, with the month still ongoing, representing a remarkable improvement compared to N743,698,652.16 recorded in February 2025.
Adenuga attributed the increase largely to the seamless trade facilitation process adopted at the Command.
The Comptroller made this disclosure during an interactive session at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with cross-border traders, farmers and stakeholders organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme and GIZ International where he represented the Comptroller General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
The event, held in Badagry on Wednesday,, was themed: “Empowering Cross-Border Traders through Trade Information Desk for Agricultural Traders”.
In his words “For this February that has not yet ended, we have already generated N3,480,970,924.67 as against N743,698,652.16 revenue generated in February 2025.
This clearly shows that the flow of trade is getting better and people are building greater confidence in the Seme–Krake corridor”.
He assured traders and stakeholders that the significant reduction in checkpoints along the Seme–Gbaji axis is the direct result of strong collaborative efforts with other security agencies operating within the corridor.
He clarified that only Agbara and Gbaji remain the officially Customs approved and sanctioned checkpoints along this Lagos-Abidjan corridor..He further attributed the noticeable decline in crime rates along the Seme-Gbaji axis to the positive outcomes of monthly joint border security meetings involving all agencies at the border post.
These regular inter-agency engagements have strengthened better cooperation, improved intelligence sharing and more effective responses to security challenges, thereby creating a safer and more enabling environment for cross-border trade.
While revenue generation and trade facilitation remain key priorities, the Command’s mandate extends firmly to combating illicit activities.
The CAC highlighted recent enforcement successes, including the interception of a Toyota Highlander vehicle conveying 22 packages of cocaine with an estimated street value exceeding N1 billion, a feat which was made possible based on very credible information shared by the CGC.
In addition, during February 2026 alone, the Command has seized 1,000 bags of 50kg parboiled rice, underscoring its unwavering commitment to suppressing smuggling and protecting Nigeria’s economic borders.
Adenuga reiterates the vigilance and commitment of the operatives of the Command in working closely with stakeholders, traders, farmers, sister security agencies and regional partners to improve the momentum of trade and security along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.
