SEME CUSTOMS HONOURS PROMOTED 66 SENIOR OFFICERS ... still on the euphoria of the elevation of former CAC to ACG.

By Okey IROEGBU 

It is a season of celebration in the Nigeria Customs Service community as the promoted officers and their families are celebrating their promotions vto the next branks. It has never been so joyous in this community as it isexpressed in this vpast week. At Seme Customs Area Command, it was filled with joy on Thursday, 18 September 2025, as 66 senior officers, promoted by the Board (NCSB) during its

63rd Regular Meeting in Abuja, were decorated at the ECOWAS Complex, Joint Border Post (JBP), Seme-Krake. This coicided with he resumption of the new Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga. In his opening remarks, the Customs Area Controller congratulated the officers and reminded them that promotions come with both honour and responsibility. “This promotion comes with humility. It is not a license for pride but a call to greater service. Carry your junior colleagues along, celebrate with one another, and let us make Seme Area Command the pride of the Service,” he charged. According to the information reaching this media from the Public Relations Officer of the command, Isa Sulaiman, Chief Superintendent of Customs, the CAC praised the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and his management team for their tireless efforts in ensuring a fair and transparent promotion exercise. He emphasized that the Command is committed to supporting the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, dsm, fnipr, psc, whose leadership mantra is trade facilitation. He added that Seme Command will continue stakeholder engagements to ensure the border remains the pride of the Service and the best in the West African sub-region. It could be noted that the command benefited with the promotuion of Sixty-six senior officers. In his vote of thanks and speaking on behalf of the decorated officers, CSC Oreyeni Olufemi expressed gratitude to the CGC, the CAC, senior officers, families, and colleagues. He pledged that the officers would justify the confidence reposed in them and continue to contribute to the success of the Service. Present at the event were heads of the sister security agencies at the Joint Border Post, including Nigeria Immigration Service, DSS, NDLEA, NAFDAC, Port Health Service, NAQS, EOD/Anti-Bomb Unit as well as family members and stakeholders. It was a celebration that will remain in the anals of the history of the Customs. Meanwhile it

was praise galore as the outgone Area Controller of Command and also promoted ACG Dr. Ben Oramalugo handed over to the new controller of the command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga who vows to deepen Trade Facilitation and make the Seme border a Nigeria’s pride. Reporting from observations in attendance and the press release from the Command's Public Relations Officer, "the Nigeria Customs Service, Seme Area Command, has witnessed a seamless change of leadership as Comptroller Wale Adenuga formally took over the mantle of leadership of the Command  yesterday at  the ECOWAS Joint Border Post, Seme-Krake Border Post. "The handing over ceremony brought together senior officials from sister security agencies, representatives of trade and transport stakeholders, community leaders and members of the Fourth Estate. In his inaugural address, Comptroller Wale Adenuga praised the outgoing CAC for his achievements and pledged to consolidate on them. He outlined his vision for the Command, placing trade facilitation at the heart of his leadership. "Trade facilitation is my keyword," he stated. “When stakeholders make proper declarations, their consignments will leave Customs control within the shortest possible time. The more we facilitate trade, the more revenue we generate and the less smuggling we have,” he added. Comptroller Adenuga pledged to collaborate closely with sister agencies, including the DSS, Nigeria Police,

Immigration,  NDLEA,  Nigerian Military, NAFDAC and others to reduce crime and create a conducive environment for business to thrive. He also committed to maintaining open communications with the traditional rulers, the youth of Badagry and the media and assured all that "his doors remain open and that he will lead his officers and not to abandon them." He promised to lead from the front and ensure officers remain disciplined and committed to their responsibility and not to compromise their duties. In his farewell remarks, ACG Oramalugo described the day as one of “mixed emotions” joy at God’s faithfulness and his promotion, but nostalgia for the bonds built during his time in Seme. He highlighted key achievements under his leadership, including sustained suppression of smuggling with significant seizures of prohibited goods.

Improved revenue collection and enhanced trade facilitation to ease legitimate business while safeguarding national security, as well as fostering inter-agency cooperation and community engagement, among others. The ceremony featured goodwill messages from heads of sister agencies and stakeholders, including the Comptroller of Immigration at the Joint Border Post, Comptroller of Immigration Land Border Patrol, Nigeria Shippers Council, NDLEA, FRSC, among others.