The Nigeria Customs Service has announced a change of leadership at the Seme Area Command, with Deputy Comptroller Olisa Alumanah assuming duty as Acting Customs Area Controller following the elevation of Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila to the rank of Acting Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs.
The development was announced by the Public Relations Officer of the Seme Area Command, Superintendent of Customs John Tunde Ayagbalo.
According to him, the leadership transition, which took place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, came after approximately eight months of Kaila’s tenure at the strategic border command, during which the command recorded a 233 per cent increase in revenue generation.
Kaila disclosed that the command generated more than ₦27 billion between March and October 2026, compared with ₦8 billion recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
The performance represents an additional ₦19 billion in revenue, translating into a 233 per cent growth and marking a significant improvement in the command’s revenue profile.
In his farewell remarks, the outgoing controller attributed the impressive revenue performance and anti-smuggling successes to intelligence-driven operations, enhanced surveillance, proper processing and timely sharing of actionable information.
He said the command had maintained a collective resolve to prevent the Seme border from becoming a safe passage for economic saboteurs.
Kaila expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management of the service for the confidence reposed in him and the opportunity to serve at a higher level.
He also urged officers and men of the command to sustain discipline, loyalty, unity, integrity, accountability and professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Taking over the command, Alumanah pledged to consolidate on the achievements recorded by his predecessor, promising to strengthen operational efficiency, revenue generation and the fight against smuggling and other forms of cross-border criminality.
He acknowledged Kaila’s contributions, particularly in revenue growth, intelligence collaboration, intensified anti-smuggling operations and the restoration of operational discipline and stability.
Outlining his administration’s priorities, the new acting controller identified seven strategic pillars that would guide his leadership at the command.
They include revenue collection; facilitation of legitimate trade; discipline, integrity and professional conduct; cooperation, teamwork and collective responsibility; collaboration with stakeholders and sister agencies; avoidance of unnecessary problems on the job; and modernisation, innovation and adoption of global best practices.
Alumanah described Seme as a strategic component of Nigeria’s border management architecture, stressing the need for effective coordination and professionalism to achieve the command’s mandate.
He thanked Adeniyi and the management of the service for the confidence placed in him, assuring that he would build on the foundation laid by his predecessor.
Also speaking, the Head of Benin Customs and Co-Chair of the Seme-Krake Joint Border Post, Col. Mekoun Parfait, congratulated Kaila on his elevation, describing his rapid advancement, less than a year after assuming duty at Seme, as evidence of the confidence reposed in his competence, experience and professionalism.
The ceremony ended with expressions of appreciation from the outgoing controller and renewed assurances from Alumanah to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and sustain the command’s achievements.
The leadership transition comes against the backdrop of growing expectations for improved border security, trade facilitation, revenue mobilisation and stronger enforcement against smuggling along Nigeria’s borders.
