Following the giant strides of the Seme Border Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under the watch of Comptroller Ben Oramalugo, the Zonal Coordinator of Zone A Lagos, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Charles Orbih, describes the command as an outstanding command in service delivery
By Edu Abade
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has received commendation from the Zonal Coordinator of the NCS, Zone A Lagos, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Charles Orbih over what he described as “outstanding service and infrastructure improvement.”
The Zonal Coordinator, Orbih, who gave the commendation on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, during a working visit to the Seme Area Command at the ECOWAS Joint Border Post, Seme-Krake Corridor, stressed that the visit was aimed at assessing the Command’s operations, engaging with its men and officers, as well as aligning strategic goals across the Zone.
While welcoming the Zonal Coordinator and his entourage, the Customs Area Controller of Seme Command, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo PhD, expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as a morale booster and a reaffirmation of the ACG’s commitment to operational excellence and oversight. Oramalugo, who gave a detailed overview of the Command’s mandates and achievements in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations, trade facilitation and border security, said, “Your presence here today is a testament to your commitment to strengthen the operations of the Zone, ensuring that the Commands and Units deliver their mandates as enshrined in the extant laws.”
He disclosed that between January and May 2025, the Command generated over ₦3.57 billion in revenue and facilitated export consignments of 220,300 metric tons valued at ₦47 billion Free on Board (FOB). He also highlighted anti-smuggling efforts that resulted in seizures worth ₦889 million, including the interception of expired pharmaceuticals, marijuana and corrosive mercury, which were handed over to the relevant security agencies for further investigation.
The CAC, who also acknowledged several challenges facing the Command, such as the seven-year old total power outage in the Command and its environs, poor road infrastructure, non-functional scanning equipment and border porosity, stressed that there was ongoing advocacy for infrastructure upgrade, deployment of modern surveillance tools and deeper collaboration with sister security agencies and local communities to address these concerns.
Responding, ACG Charles Orbih lauded the leadership of the Seme Area Command for initiatives such as the renovation of the COWA building, upgrading of the sports complex, and the recent commissioning of the officers’ mess.
He described these projects as symbolic of the Command’s alignment with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who has anchored the Service’s transformation agenda on Consolidation, Collaboration, and Innovation.
Orbih further highlighted the Zone’s impressive contributions to national revenue, noting that the Zone accounted for 79.8 percent of the NCS’s ₦1.3 trillion revenue collection in the first quarter of 2025 just as he reaffirmed the NCS’ modernization journey through the Advance Ruling System, Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) programme and B’Odogwu platform and the indigenous Customs Clearance system initiatives.
He further noted that the Service’s operational strategy for 2025 is guided by seven strategic focus areas, including trade modernization, enhanced risk management, operationalization of the NCS University, strengthening International partnerships under the AfCFTA framework, implementation of a robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy and promotion of open governance through increased transparency framework and stakeholder engagement.
According to him, these initiatives are already producing commendable outcomes.
Orbih also charged officers and men of the Command to continue upholding professionalism, integrity, and innovation, stressing that the bar has been raised for Zone A, saying, “As we move forward, the bar has been set higher for Zone ‘A’. Our previous achievements, impressive as they are, should serve as stepping stones rather than resting points.
“We must leverage our strategic importance to push beyond these accomplishments, innovating and adapting to meet the evolving demands of our nation’s economy and security needs.”
He expressed confidence in the ability of Seme Command and other units under the Zone to not only sustain, but also surpass current achievements in their service to the nation.
