Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Seme Area Command entered a new era on Wednesday as Shuaibu Kaila formally assumed duty, promising to amplify the gains recorded under former Area Controller, Wale Adenuga.
The handover ceremony, held at the ECOWAS building along the Seme Border, drew a large crowd of stakeholders, including traders, clearing agents, and logistics operators, momentarily slowing operations as participants gathered to witness the leadership transition.
In his inaugural address, Kaila applauded Adenuga for raising the Command’s operational standards and pledged to drive further improvements in trade facilitation, compliance enforcement, and border security.
“My priority is to facilitate legitimate trade, improve compliance, and strengthen national security,” he said, assuring stakeholders of a more inclusive and efficient administration.
Adenuga, who has been redeployed to the Service Headquarters, described the posting as a routine administrative exercise and urged stakeholders to extend their cooperation to his successor.
“It is the prerogative of the Service to post and redeploy officers,” he noted, emphasizing the need for unity and continuity.
Stakeholders praised Adenuga’s brief but impactful tenure, citing notable improvements in traffic management, revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations, and stakeholder engagement. A logistics operator, Ojo, said the outgoing comptroller “significantly transformed operations in just six months.”
Kaila is expected to consolidate these gains while pushing deeper reforms to enhance efficiency and border security. Analysts say his success will depend on sustaining the momentum, strengthening collaboration, and navigating internal pressures that occasionally challenge reform efforts.
During the ceremony, a Deputy Comptroller urged officers to maintain professionalism and shun internal rivalry, stressing that constructive engagement is essential to advancing the Command’s objectives.
Adenuga’s exit was marked by goodwill messages from stakeholders expressing confidence that the new leadership will not only sustain but surpass the progress achieved at the Seme Border Command.