The Seme Border Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), under its new Area Controller Dr Benjamin Oramalugo, pledges to contribute significantly to national security and economic growth through inter-agency collaboration and robust stakeholder engagements
By Edu Abade
He is an unusual anti-smuggling officer of the Nigeria Customs Service in a class of his own. Quite, enthusiastic and easy going on the outside, Comptroller Benjamin Oramalugo, an academic of repute, has begun to replicate his uncommon anti-smuggling successes at the Oyo/Osun Command in his new post at the Seme Border Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
His reign of terror against anything smugglers and smuggling while he presided over the affairs of the Oyo/Osun Command located in the ancient city of Ibadan earned him accolades both from the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi and the sitting governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde. Aside the numerous records he broke while at Ibadan, the Oyo/Osun Command’s revenue generating profile increased rapidly under the Dr. Oramalugo leadership as the Customs Area Controller (CAC).
For these outstanding performances, last month, the management of the NCS found him worthy to be elevated to police one of the most notorious and busiest borders in the land, Seme Border Customs Area Command as its CAC. He arrived at Seme Border with the zeal, passion and determination to instill a positive change that will write his name in gold as the best among the CACs that have led the Command since it was created.
Never an officer to be tossed around by smugglers and their subtleties, Comptroller Oramalugo began to be in control of the border by first initiating an unusual stakeholders partnership that would co-opt the border community leaders and sister security agencies into his anti-smuggling strategies which major aim is to find ways to dissuade smuggling around the border, and also ensure that every notorious and die-hard smuggling kingpin is brought to book whenever they and their smuggled items are arrested.
In a strategic move last February to consolidate his leadership at the Command, Oramalugo paid visits to notable traditional rulers around the border, including the Oba of Badagry and the Oba of Ibereko Kingdom during which he laid emphasis on the roles of the traditional institutions in the efforts of the NCS to secure the borders against the influx of unwanted items into the country.
Comptroller Oramalugo also extended the stakeholders’ collaboration network to other security agencies operating around the border post. These include the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerian Navy Forward Operation Base, the Nigerian Army 243 RECCE Battalion Regiment, the Nigeria Police Division, Badagry and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
According to Isah Sulaiman, the image maker for the Seme Border Area Command, the CAC had told his audiences that his “Mission at Seme Border Area Command goes beyond revenue collection, but extends to ensuring national security and fostering economic growth”.
Hence, “Strong partnerships with traditional institutions and security agencies are vital in achieving these objectives”.
Seme Customs Pledges Economic Growth
In recognition of the importance of collaboration in achieving set objectives, the Seme Border Command under Oramalugo has also pledged a robust engagement with critical stakeholders to enhance trade facilitation and further grow the nation’s economy.
Dr. Oramalugo made this pledge at his maiden media briefing on Thursday, March 13, 2025 and said his engagements since assuming office on February 11, 2025, have improved intelligence-sharing and coordination, reinforcing the Command’s commitment to national security, economic regulation and the fight against smuggling.
“Our mission at Seme Area Command extends beyond revenue collection as it encompasses national security and economic growth, which are best achieved through strong institutional partnerships,” he said.
Oramalugo, who spoke extensively on the Command’s operational activities at Seme-Krake Border, also provided an overview of its activities since he assumed office, said: “Since taking over as the Area Controller, the Command has implemented strategic measures to enhance revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations, and inter-agency collaboration.
“These efforts align with the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service and the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who has emphasized synergy among stakeholders to combat smuggling and strengthen border security.”
He stressed that to enhance operational efficiency and ensure optimal performance, the Command has undertaken critical restructuring of key sections, maintaining that the move has led to strategic redeployment of officers for better vigilance and proactive border security operations and increased accountability and improved revenue collection.
Describing the redeployments as “putting the round pegs in round holes,” he expressed delight that the reforms he has undertaken so far have already begun to yield positive results.
On the revenue generation profile of the Command, he explained that the Seme Area Command has generated a total revenue of N743.7 million in the month of February 2025, adding: “This remarkable achievement underscores our commitment to blocking revenue leakages and ensuring maximum collection for national development.”
Oramalugo also disclosed that the Command facilitated a total of over 28,395.293 metric tons of exports, or an equivalent of 806 trucks of export produce for the month of February 2025 with a Free On Board (FOB) value of N7.852 billion, which is equivalent to $4,995,527.78.
Maintaining that the Command will leverage on the trade facilitation initiatives to foster a more efficient, transparent and predictable trade environment thereby contributing to Nigeria’s growth and development, he said revenue generated from the Nigeria Export Supervision Scheme (NESS) was N39.260 million with the total surcharge in February amounting to N2.433 million.
Comptroller Oramalugo, who conducted journalists round various seized contraband and prohibited items, further explained that the Command’s intensified anti-smuggling operations led to the interception of several prohibited items.
Within the period under review, our gallant officers, acting on reliable intelligence, seized 444 parcels of Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana); 181) packs of Tramadol; 600 bottles of Codeine Syrup (100ml each); 240 kegs of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol.
Others are 1,809 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each); 17 sacks of used shoes; 56 bales of used clothes and 203 pieces of used tyres with a combined total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N267 million.
“The seizures, which contravene relevant sections of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 (NCSA 23), reaffirm our commitment to suppressing smuggling within the Seme Border corridor.
“Furthermore, with the approval of the CGC, the seized Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana) has been handed over to the Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Seme Command, in line with existing inter-agency collaboration.
“The achievements of the Seme Area Command within this short period are the result of the unwavering support of the CGC and his NCS Management Team, the dedication and professionalism of our officers, the effective deployment of intelligence-driven strategies and robust inter-agency collaboration as well as stakeholder engagement,” he stated.
On the Command’s strategic plans moving forward, CAC Oramalugo maintained that while significant strides have been recorded, “we remain resolute in our commitment to strengthening our engagements with traditional rulers and community leaders, enhancing surveillance and patrol activities to eliminate smuggling operations as well as deploying advanced intelligence strategies to disrupt illicit trade networks.”
He cautioned smugglers and their collaborators to desist from engaging in illegal activities, as the Command under his watch will not tolerate any form of crime and criminality, insisting: “Smuggling is an act of economic sabotage and the Seme Area Command is fully prepared to track down, arrest and prosecute offenders.”
He admonished individuals involved in smuggling to embrace legitimate trade and contribute to national economic growth, rather than engaging in criminal activities that undermine the country’s economy.
“The proactive measures we have implemented in fostering collaboration, enhancing operational efficiency, boosting revenue generation and intensifying anti-smuggling efforts are already yielding tangible results. We remain committed to sustaining these efforts to ensure even greater service delivery in the months ahead.
“We are grateful to the Comptroller-General of Customs and his Management Team for their unwavering support by providing equipment in carrying out our mandate. We also appreciate our security and inter-agency partners for their collaboration as well as the media for their role in disseminating our activities to the general public,” he concluded.
