As part of activities to mark the 2025 International Customs Day, Seme Customs Command organised a free medical outreach for stakeholders, travellers and officers at the Seme-Krake joint border-post.
The Area Controller of Seme Border Command, Comptroller Kayode Kolade disclosed this at a ceremony to mark the event where 89 newly promoted officers at the Command were celebrated.
His words: “In commemoration of this International Customs Day, the Command has organized free medical outreach for our stakeholders, travellers and officers operating along the corridor. The exercise is going on presently at our inward and outward of the baggage hall. I encourage us to take advantage of this opportunity to know our health status.
“Upon my resumption of duty on the 3rd of September 2024, I pledged to consolidate on the achievements of my predecessors. We have kept faith with that by increasing the 2024 revenue generation figure of the command from N4.6billion to N7.1billion in less than four months”
Speaking on the Command’s revenue performance for 2024, the anti-smuggling czar said “The Command as at 31st December 2024, collected a total of N7, 166,576, 397.49 only, representing 80% of the target performance. These figures are higher than N5,885,697,334 collected in the corresponding period of 2023. This amount saw an upward increase of N1, 280, 879, 062.87 only, equivalent to 21.7% increase”
On trade facilitation, Compt Kolade revealed that the Seme Command Export seat in 2024 facilitated a total of 306, 039. 57 metric tonnes equivalent of 8,487 trucks of export produce for the 2024 fiscal year with a free on board (FOB) value of N77.8billion which is equivalent to $76, 687, 873. 81.
The Seme Customs boss also seized the occasion of the global event to congratulate all officers and men of the Command, and esteemed stakeholders on the occasion of 2025 International Customs Day (ICD) celebration, adding that the theme for this year is apt and inspiring.
He, however, noted that the enforcement unit of the Command has sustained surveillance of the border against the illicit activities of the daredevil smugglers with 921 interceptions consisting of various contraband items during the year 2024.
“These seizures include the following; 37 Tanker loads of premium motor spirit (PMS), 11,569 bags of 50kg rice, 24 used vehicles and means of conveyance, 1934 parcels of hard drugs and narcotics, among others. The Duty Paid Value (DPV) of these items stood at N1,895,175,942.00 only,” he said.
Kolade also noted that 48 suspects were arrested in connection with the various seizures during the period under review, adding that the Command won an award as best Land Border Command in Trade Facilitation during the CGC Excellent Awards Night at Abuja in November 2024.
