ALUMANAH TAKES OVER AT SEME CUSTOMS, VOWS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR REVENUE LEAKAGES, OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT

ALUMANAH TAKES CHARGE AT SEME CUSTOMS, VOWS ZERO TOLERANCE FOR REVENUE LEAKAGES, OFFICIAL MISCONDUCT

By Babatunde Aremu

The Acting Customs Area Controller of Seme Area Command, Deputy Comptroller N. Olisa Alumanah, has declared a firm commitment to strengthening revenue collection, improving trade facilitation and enforcing discipline among officers, warning that the Command will not tolerate revenue compromises, intimidation or deliberate obstruction of legitimate trade.

Alumanah made the declaration on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, during his assumption of duty at the ECOWAS Conference Hall, Seme, where he formally took over the leadership of the Command from Assistant Comptroller-General Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila.

Addressing officers, stakeholders and representatives of sister security agencies, the new Acting Controller emphasised that his administration would be guided by professionalism, accountability, integrity and collective responsibility.

He was emphatic that his leadership was not intended to witch-hunt officers but to establish a system where everyone would be held accountable for their actions.

“I have not come here to witch-hunt anyone, but there will be no room for revenue compromise, deliberate negligence or any practice that shortchanges the government,” he declared.

On revenue generation, Alumanah charged officers to strengthen their monitoring mechanisms, block revenue leakages and ensure strict compliance with established customs procedures.

He stressed that every revenue due to the Federal Government must be collected, urging officers to remain diligent, proactive and committed to their statutory responsibilities.

The Acting Controller also placed considerable emphasis on enforcement, insisting that operations at the border must be intelligence-driven and conducted in accordance with professional standards.

According to him, the Service must not sacrifice the rights of legitimate traders in the name of enforcement, adding that intimidation, arbitrary demands and unnecessary delays would not be tolerated.

He explained that effective border management requires a delicate balance between trade facilitation, revenue protection and national security.
Alumanah further assured officers who demonstrate honesty and professionalism of his support, warning, however, that he would not protect anyone found engaging in unlawful activities, irrespective of rank, position or personal relationship.

“I will stand by officers who perform honestly, but I will not shield anyone involved in unlawful conduct. Nobody will be above accountability,” he stated.

He subsequently outlined his leadership priorities, which include revenue without compromise, trade facilitation without obstruction, enforcement without intimidation, discipline without favouritism, collaboration, modernisation and teamwork.

The new Acting Controller also called for stronger cooperation among officers, stakeholders and sister agencies, noting that collective commitment would be critical to achieving the Command’s operational objectives.

In his valedictory remarks, the outgoing Controller, ACG Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, officers and men of the Command, sister security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders for their support during his tenure.

Kaila, who assumed duty on March 18, 2026, highlighted the Command’s revenue performance as one of the major achievements of his seven-month leadership.

He disclosed that the Command increased its revenue collection from approximately ₦8 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year to over ₦27 billion, representing a remarkable growth of 237.5 per cent.

He attributed the performance to improved compliance, effective monitoring, intelligence gathering and the dedication of officers and men.
In his response,

Alumanah commended his predecessor for the achievements recorded, assuring stakeholders that his administration would consolidate on the existing foundation and work towards surpassing the performance.

The change of leadership at Seme comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s cross-border trade, given the Command’s strategic position along the Lagos-Badagry corridor and its importance to commercial activities within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

For traders and other stakeholders, the new administration’s emphasis on reducing unnecessary delays, eliminating intimidation and improving professionalism represents an important commitment to a more predictable trading environment.
However, the real test of Alumanah’s leadership will be how effectively these promises translate into improved operational efficiency, stronger revenue performance, legitimate trade facilitation and disciplined border management.

As he assumes responsibility for one of Nigeria Customs Service’s strategic border commands, expectations will be high for an administration that combines firm enforcement with fairness, accountability and a business-friendly approach.