Agro trade boom pushes Seme Customs revenue to N3.48bn in February – Compt Adenuga

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) generated ₦3.48 billion in revenue in February 2026, driven largely by a surge in agro-related exports and cross-border trade activities.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Adenuga, attributed the impressive performance to improved trade facilitation measures, enhanced stakeholder engagement, and sustained enforcement efforts at the Seme -Krake border corridor.

Comptroller Adenuga, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with cross-border traders and farmers held in Badagry. The event was organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme and GIZ. The meeting, themed “Empowering Cross-Border Traders through Trade Information Desk for Agricultural Traders,” brought together key actors in the regional trade ecosystem

In a release signed by Superintendent of Customs John Ayagbalo, Public Relations Officer of Seme Command, Comptroller Adenuga, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the revenue performance marks a sharp increase compared to the N743,698,652.16 recorded in February 2025.

He attributed the remarkable growth largely to improved trade facilitation measures and enhanced stakeholder confidence in the Seme border corridor.

According to him, the steady rise in revenue underscores growing trust in Customs processes and smoother cargo movement across the Lagos-Abidjan corridor. He noted that the improved trade flow signals greater compliance and strengthened collaboration between Customs and border communities.

The CAC also assured traders that the significant reduction in checkpoints along the Seme–Gbaji axis is the outcome of coordinated efforts among security agencies operating within the corridor. He clarified that only Agbara and Gbaji remain officially approved Customs checkpoints along the route, a development aimed at easing the movement of legitimate goods and agricultural exports.

He further explained that monthly joint border security meetings involving all agencies at the post have contributed to a noticeable decline in criminal activities. The regular engagements, he said, have enhanced intelligence sharing, inter-agency cooperation and rapid response to emerging threats, thereby creating a safer and more enabling environment for cross-border trade.

Despite the strong revenue performance, the Command maintained that enforcement against illicit trade remains uncompromising. Comptroller Adenuga highlighted the recent interception of a Toyota Highlander conveying 22 packages of cocaine valued at over N1 billion, an operation executed based on credible intelligence shared by the Comptroller-General.

In addition, the Command seized 1,000 bags of 50kg parboiled rice within February 2026 alone, reinforcing its resolve to curb smuggling and safeguard Nigeria’s economic borders.

Reaffirming the Command’s commitment, the CAC pledged continued collaboration with traders, farmers, security agencies and regional partners to sustain trade growth while maintaining vigilance against illegal activities along the strategic Lagos-Abidjan corridor.