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The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has generated N3,480,970,924.67 in revenue so far in February 2026, reflecting a sharp rise in cross-border trade activities, particularly agricultural exports along the Lagos-Abidjan corridor.
Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, disclosed the figure during a stakeholders’ engagement organised by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Agricultural Trade Programme and GIZ International. The meeting, held in Badagry, focused on empowering cross-border agricultural traders through improved access to trade information.
Adenuga, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said the revenue performance marks a significant increase compared to the N743,698,652.16 recorded in February 2025.
“For this February that has not yet ended, we have already generated N3.48 billion as against N743.6 million in February last year. This clearly shows that the flow of trade is improving and stakeholders are gaining confidence in the Seme-Krake corridor,” he said.
He attributed the surge to improved trade facilitation measures, stronger collaboration among border security agencies, and growing compliance by traders. Adenuga also noted that the number of checkpoints along the Seme-Gbaji axis has been streamlined, with only Agbara and Gbaji remaining as officially approved Customs checkpoints along the Lagos-Abidjan route.
According to him, enhanced inter-agency coordination through monthly joint border security meetings has reduced crime and strengthened intelligence sharing, creating a safer environment for legitimate trade.
Despite the revenue gains, the Command intensified its anti-smuggling operations. Adenuga revealed that operatives recently intercepted a Toyota Highlander conveying 22 packages of cocaine valued at over N1 billion, following intelligence provided by Customs headquarters. In addition, the Command seized 1,000 bags of 50-kg parboiled rice within February alone.
He reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to balancing revenue generation with enforcement, stressing that Customs will continue working with traders, farmers, and regional partners to sustain trade growth while safeguarding Nigeria’s borders.
