The Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, said it processed 96,000 metric tonnes of export cargoes with a free-on-board value of N20.4bn between January and March 2025.

In a statement on Monday, the Customs Area Controller of the command, Dr. Ben Oramalugo, stated this when he hosted the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise on an oversight visit at the command.

He also said that the command generated N1.9bn as revenue in the first quarter of 2025 through improved compliance, risk management, and enforcement.

“Export activities were notably boosted with over 96,000 metric tonnes of goods with a FOB value of N20.4bn from January to March 2025,” Oramalugo said.

Oramalugo emphasised that within the period under review, the command recorded several seizures ranging from petroleum products, narcotics, foreign rice, poultry, and vehicles, among others, with a duty paid value of N855m.

The CAC outlined several operational challenges faced by the command, including poor infrastructure, a shortage of personnel and equipment, a lack of power supply for over seven years in the entire Seme Axis, and ocean encroachment.

Oramalugo called for urgent government intervention, especially in technology deployment, environmental protection, and enforcement of contractual obligations on stalled projects.

He described the visit by the members of the House of Representatives as part of the National Assembly’s statutory oversight responsibilities as enshrined in Sections 88 and 89 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He described the visit as a strong demonstration of their commitment to enhancing customs administration, trade facilitation, and national revenue optimisation.

Oramalugo highlighted the strategic importance of the Joint Border Post along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, stressing that it serves as a vital hub for regional trade.

He reiterated the command’s dedication to embracing the JBP initiative, which fosters cooperation with the Republic of Benin, “promotes intelligence sharing, and improves customs clearance through the one-stop border post model.”

In his response, the Chairman of the House Committee on Customs, Hon. Leke Abejide, reaffirmed the committee’s resolve to critically assess the operations and capital projects in line with the 2023 and 2024 budgetary approvals.

“We are here to check your books, operations, and ongoing projects to ensure alignment with appropriated funds and to determine areas for retention or removal in the 2025 budget,” Abejide stated.

He emphasised the need for the command to provide data on revenue performance about targets, “the impact of E-Customs and digital platforms and efforts made in suppressing smuggling and promoting Nigeria’s trade competitiveness.”