By Stephen Ubanna
After several years of behind the scene maneuvering and pressures by senior Customs officers wives, at Seme Command on former Area Controllers to rgive a facelift to the Customs Officers Wives Association, COWA, office complex at Seme -Krake Border, described as the busiest border in the African Continent, but was not given the required attention, Compt. Ben Nkem Oramalugo, PH.D, the incumbent Area Controller, appears to have made the difference.
Given the importance attached to COWA, by Adeniyi, MFR, the Customs Comptroller General, CGC, as a way to bring the Customs officers together as a body in order to know themselves on a one- on- one basis as well as have an insight into the operations of the service and how best to support the officers on the job may have informed why the Customs Comptroller had revived the neglected COWA office at the Command as obtained at other Customs Commands across the country.
The Seme Customs Area Controller may have had at the ack of his mind that if he can revive the neglected security meetings of the security agencies Chiefs at the Seme-Krake Border which had been abandoned for almost a year, forcing the agencies to work at their different directions, thus giving the smugglers room to carry out their nefarious activities, with impunity, he could as well revive the COWA, office complex because of its attendant benefits.
He had said that ‘’the COWA office complex was recognized as a testament to the invaluable contributions of COWA, in supporting officers, fostering community development, and promoting Family welfare within the Command’’.
He had alluded to the fact that the vital decisions that had been taken since the inauguration of the security agencies Committee meetings which had to do with the dismantling of illegal checkpoints along the Abidjan corridor and further minimize inter-agency rivalry and foster a unified approach to border security, the Command have much to benefit from COWA.
On Monday, May 19, 2025, the CGC and his entourage had arrived at the Seme Command premises, amidst applause from the Customs officers who were said to have showed in the large number, officers and men of the Command and other security agencies personnel and commissioned the newly renovated COWA office complex at the Area Command.
The Customs Comptroller Genera was said to have also taken advantage of the invitation to Commission the state of the art, COWA office complex at the border Community between Nigeria and the neighbouring Republic of Benin to Commission other projects that had been completed by Compt. Oramalugo, within two months of overseeing the activities of the Seme Command. These includes the renovated senior officers mess, and Gym House, which was said to have been thrown open to other security agencies personnel and stakeholders at the border Community including Journalists.
An elated Compt. Oramalugo, who could not hide his feelings having the CGC, come in person to Commission the projects had expressed immense gratitude for the all-important occasion and further highlighted ‘’the importance of these projects in enhancing the welfare and morale of officers and their families’’.
Describing the renovated officers’ mess as a symbol of the Command’s Commitment to provding a conducive environment for relaxation, camaderine and professional bonding among officers, he noted that there will be no more hiding place for smugglers within the Seme-Krake jurisdictions as Patrol team officers have a meeting point to discuss and plan their operations before going out for daily activities.
Without mincing words, the Seme Command, Customs Chief, had praised the collective effort that brought these projects to fruition and commended the officers for their dedication to duty which was said to have significantly Contributed to the Command’s success in all its anti-smuggling operations, and making spectacular Contraband seizures.
The Command recent interception and seizure of Corrosive Mercury canisters, described in security circles as Improvised Explosive Device, IED, used by Terrorists, concealed beneath five cartons of the Holy Quran in a Japanese manufactured vehicle, Toyota Avensis with Registration No. GGE 167 JN, along the Bdagry-Lagos Expressway speaks volume.
