Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The new Acting Customs Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, Deputy Comptroller N. Olisa Alumanah, has pledged to strengthen border security, eliminate revenue leakages and create a more transparent operating environment for legitimate businesses along the Nigeria-Benin corridor.
Alumanah gave the assurance on Wednesday during a handover ceremony at the ECOWAS Conference Hall, Seme, where he formally assumed leadership from the outgoing Controller, Assistant Comptroller-General Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila.
Setting the tone for his administration, the new Customs chief identified revenue generation, intelligence-led enforcement and trade facilitation as the three priorities that would guide operations under his leadership.
He stressed that the command must protect national security and government revenue without creating unnecessary obstacles for legitimate trade, particularly along the busy Nigeria-Benin border corridor.
Alumanah warned that activities such as undervaluation, export violations and other revenue-related infractions would attract closer attention, assuring that his administration would strengthen collection mechanisms and block avenues through which government revenue could be lost.
On anti-smuggling operations, he called for greater reliance on intelligence and credible information, stressing that officers must conduct enforcement activities professionally rather than resort to intimidation or arbitrary actions.
However, the new Controller reserved a strong message for officers whose conduct could undermine trade facilitation and public confidence in the Service.
He warned against unnecessary delays, intimidation, unauthorised demands and other practices capable of frustrating traders, transporters, importers and clearing agents operating through the Seme border.
“Our objective must be to enforce compliance without unnecessary obstruction and trade facilitation without compromising national security or revenue,” he declared.
He further emphasised that discipline and accountability would apply to every officer, regardless of rank, position or personal relationship.
While assuring committed and professional personnel of his support, Alumanah warned that officers found engaging in unlawful practices would not be protected.
The Acting Controller also highlighted technology, modernisation and continuous professional development as important components of his operational strategy, urging personnel to embrace improved methods of service delivery in response to the changing demands of border management.
In his farewell address, the outgoing Controller, ACG Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, attributed the achievements recorded during his tenure to teamwork, intelligence gathering, effective supervision and cooperation among security and regulatory agencies.
He acknowledged the contributions of sister agencies and other stakeholders in maintaining security and supporting enforcement activities at the border.
Kaila maintained that the fight against smuggling and other illicit cross-border activities could only be effective through coordinated operations, noting that criminal networks do not respect institutional boundaries.
“Criminal activities will not operate within the boundaries of institutional responsibilities. Therefore, our response must be coordinated,” he said.
He also urged officers to sustain the spirit of unity and cooperation, warning that internal disagreements and personal differences could weaken the command’s ability to deliver on its responsibilities.
“A command divided by personal differences cannot achieve its full potential,” he cautioned.
Seme Border Operations Under Fresh Scrutiny
Alumanah’s assumption of office comes with significant expectations from businesses that depend on the Seme corridor for the movement of goods between Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries.
For traders and transport operators, the central concern will be whether the new administration can translate its promises into faster cargo clearance, fewer bureaucratic bottlenecks, transparent procedures and more professional engagement with Customs personnel.
The challenge is to ensure that legitimate businesses are not subjected to unnecessary delays or unofficial demands while maintaining effective controls against smuggling, revenue fraud and other cross-border offences.
As a strategic gateway for regional commerce, the efficiency of the Seme corridor has implications that extend beyond Customs operations to transportation, investment, consumer markets and the wider Nigerian economy.
Alumanah’s three-point agenda therefore sets an important benchmark for his administration.
Beyond seizures, enforcement statistics and revenue targets, his leadership will ultimately be measured by its ability to secure the nation’s borders while building a Customs environment where legitimate trade is protected, businesses are treated fairly and officers are held accountable.
For stakeholders operating along the corridor, the expectation is clear: a safer border, a more disciplined Customs administration and fewer obstacles to legitimate commerce.