By Stephen Ubanna
With barely few months to his retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Compt. Ben Nkem Oralugo, PH. D, described in Customs circles as an academician because of his writing skills, appears to have kept to his words of going to publish the second edition of the Customs Administration in Nigeria.
True to his words, on Wednesday, July 17, 2025, all roads lead to Seme/Krake, a Joint Border between Nigeria and Republic of Benin, where the second edition of the Customs Administration in Nigeria, was launched amidst cheers and applaud from the Command officers and men including invited guests, both within and outside Seme /Krake joint border post.
Presenting his keynote address, Comp. Oramalugo, who bagged a Certificate in Public Administration, from the prestigious Havard University in the North American country of the United States, US, had described the new Book on Customs Administration’’ as more than an assemblage of chapters’’, but rather a product of many years of professional experience on the job, academic research, and policy engagement.
Given an insider information of the revised edition of the Customs Administration in Nigeria, he had said that ‘’it responds to emerging challenges in Customs operations, integrates ongoing reforms in the Service under the Leadership of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and further aligns with the global standards in trade facilitation, national security and border management’’.
The Customs Comptroller, who has authored some other academic works including presenting papers in various Forums, both within and outside the country, had alluded to the fact that ‘’the dynamism of global trade, the rise in digital Customs in national security all demand scholarly response’’ in the revised book on Customs Administration’’.
The Seme Command Area Controller may have gladdened the heart of those in the book Launch when he stated that ‘’the book aspires to offer practical framework for understanding, navigating and improving Customs Systems in Nigeria and other parts of the West and Central African sub-regions as well as other similar jurisdictions’’.
Compt. Oramalugo, who could not hide his feelings had taken advantage of the Book Launch to to re-emphasize the role of intellectual development in professional excellence, urging officers ‘’to embrace continuous learning as a core element of the Service’’.
Hear Him: A knowledgeable officer is a more effective officer’’, stressing that ‘’a disciplined mind is a catalyst for institutional excellence’’. An insider confirmed the Book Launch was graced by a wide array of dignitaries, including Heads and Representative of the various security and Regulatory agencies operating at the Land border Community including the Department of State Service, DSS.
The Value News online Magazine was informed that present at the Seme/Krake border Book Launch were the Comptrollers of Nigerian Immigration , Joint Border Post, Land Border Patrol, Director of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, NAFDAC, Commander of the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service, NAQS and Representatives of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency and NDLEA, under the Chairmanship of Muhammed Buba Marwa, an Army Brig. Gen. rtd and Nigerian former Ambassador to South Africa during Late Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration.
Others at the Book Launch were the Head of the Anti-Bomb Uni of the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, under the close watch of Kayode Egbetotokun, Port Health Services and key Joint Border stakeholders, particular members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs, ANLCA, Seme Chapter, National Agency of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, NAGAFF, and National Council of Managing Directors of Licensed Customs Agents, NCMDLCA, among others.
In The goodwill messages of the Heads of the Security and Regulatory agencies who were at the Book Launch had unanimously commended the Seme Command Area Controller for his intellectual contribution in and championing professionalism within the Service.
They were said to have also taken advantage of the Book Launch which had people from all walks of life to give Kudos, to the Customs Comptroller General and Chairman, World Customs Organization for his ongoing transformation efforts in the Service, highlighting ‘’the country’s growing economic development and security’’.
Compt. Oramalugo, wo was said to have deeply shocked by the large turnout of invitees at the Book Launch, had expressed his profound appreciation to them. He did not stop there. He was said to have also appreciation to the reviewers, editors and all those who had contributed one way or the other in ensuring that the Book was published in record good time.
He had acknowledged the support of the CGC, bother morally and otherwise and for fostering the culture of knowledge, discipline and reform in the Service since he assumed office on June 1, 2023.
Compt. Oramalugo’s Book on Customs Administration which is now in its second edition, according to an informed source, is expected ‘’to serve as reference material for policymakers, academics officers of the Service bot at the Management, Zonal and Command levels and students engaged in Customs and border coverage across Nigeria and others of the African Continent. Vintage Oramalugo.
