The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has welcomed Deputy Comptroller Olisa Alumanah as Acting Customs Area Controller, as he pledged stricter operational discipline, improved trade facilitation and a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct among officers.
The formal handover ceremony which took place at the Ecowas Conference hall on Wednesday 11 November, 2026, was witnessed by top Customs officers, officers of sister agencies and other stakeholders.
In his speech, the new acting Area Controller gave a clear warning to officers to enforce compliance without obstruction, and facilitate trade without compromise.
Alumanah made it clear that protecting national security and safeguarding government revenue must go hand in hand with creating an environment where legitimate businesses can operate without unnecessary obstacles
He identified revenue generation, intelligence-led enforcement and trade facilitation as the three pillars that would guide his administration.
On revenue generation, the new Customs chief pledged to strengthen collection mechanisms and close loopholes that allow government earnings to be lost through under valuation, export violations and other forms of non-compliance.
He said that his objective would be to enforce compliance without unnecessary obstruction and trade facilitation without compromising national security or revenue.
He warned officers and men against unnecessary delays, intimidation, unauthorised demands and misconduct that scare traders away.
The new Controller cautioned that rank, position and personal relationships will not exempt anyone from accountability, saying that he’ll always stand by officers who perform honestly, but will not shield anyone involved in unlawful conduct.
Alumanah also charged officers to embrace modernisation, technology and continuous professional development.
Earlier in his farewell speech, the outgoing ACG Kaila credited his achievements to teamwork, intelligence gathering, effective supervision and inter-agency cooperation with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Immigration, NDLEA, NAFDAC and others.
According to Kaila, tackling smuggling and other forms of illicit trade requires coordinated action because criminal activities do not operate within the boundaries of individual institutions.
“Criminal activities will not operate within the boundaries of institutional responsibilities. Therefore, our response must be coordinated,” he said.
He also urged officers to maintain unity, 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,” Kaila cautioned.
With the leadership transition completed, the real test for Alumanah will be how effectively his promises translate into measurable improvements in daily border operations.
The immediate concerns for all stakeholders on the Seme corridor will include faster cargo processing, predictable procedures, reduced unnecessary delays and greater professionalism among officers.
The command will also be expected to demonstrate that stronger anti-smuggling operations and improved revenue collection can be achieved without placing additional burdens on businesses that comply with existing regulations.
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