By Stephen Ubanna
Smugglers operating in the porous border routes of Ogun and Oyo states who had taken advantage of the retirement of Compt. Kayode Kolade, a former Area Controller of Seme Command to relocate to Seme Jurisdictions to carry out their nefarious trade appears to be regretting their action.
This is because Compt. Ben Nkem Oramalugo, who many believe has the ‘’formulae’’ in dealing decisively with the smugglers may not have had any difficulty in settling down to do what he knows best: Anti-smuggling operations.
Given his antecedents in the north western state of Kebbi, described as home of the Bandits Group and Lakurawa, fighters turned Contraband smugglers, Oyo and Osun states in south western Nigeria which are, within the Oyo/Command areas of Jurisdictions his last posting before his recent redeployment to Seme appears to have reenacted best: anti-smuggling operations.
The best in Compt. Oramalugo, anti-smuggling operations may have come out at Oyo/Osun, where smugglers operating around the Saki and Iseyin border Communities between Nigeria and neighbouring Benin Republic are very daring were forced on their knees with the persistent seizure of their Contraband goods and trucks laden with cargoes.
Even the smugglers operating around the border Communities in Baruten Local Government area of Kwara state which share borders with Benin Republic who had dared to infiltrate the Oyo/Osun Communities with their smuggled goods from Benin Republic, particular, the Asian countries of India, agricultural par boiled rice , Fairly used vehicles and bales of second hand clothing will not forget their experience in hurry because of the tight security mounted along the border routes with the support andcooperation of the Community Leaders, Paramount Rulers.
The Customs Comptroller whose anti-smuggling efforts had been recognized at the official and unofficial circles, within and outside Oyo /Oyo states and its’ environs had been decorated with a special award at the last Comptroller General of Customs, CGC, Award Night, at Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, ‘’For Strategic Community Engagement’’.
The Anambra state born Area Controller of Seme Command, who is now overseeing the busiest international border route in African Continent appears to have put at the back of his mind that there is no way the Command under his Leadership will not make any headway in combating the activities of the unrepentant smugglers who operates on Land, watersides, Creeks and seas, to carry out their smuggling activities without carrying the Traditional Rulers and other security agencies personnel along, was said to have reenacted what he did at Oyo/Osun Command.
An insider had told The Value News online Magazine that Compt. Oramalugo, had had used the first few days in office to study the environment, reach out to some top security officials at Badagry, Owede Seme border Community including some local people before taking the bold initiative of meeting the Traditional Rulers and Security agencies Chiefs around the Seme Jurisdictions solicit their Cooperation in the Command ‘s anti-smuggling drive .
The Customs Comptroller, who is not knew in meeting Paramount Rulers and Community Leaders in all the Interventionists Units, areas of jurisdictions he had served in the last three years thereabout.
As a prelude to strengthening the collaboration and enhance the Command operational efficiency , Comptroller Oramalugo, described as an officer who knows his onions, and who is determined to carry everybody along in the anti-smuggling war in the joint border Community and its environs was said to have embarked on series of courtesy visits to Key Traditional Rulers and Security agencies Chiefs in Badagry jurisdiction of Lagos state, to solicit their support and cooperation to make area a no-go area for smugglers.
Isah Suleiman, a Chief Superintendent of Customs and the Command Spokesperson, had said the Area Controller’s visit to the Paramount Rulers and Security agencies Chiefs around the Badagry Jurisdictions which took place between February, 19 -20, 2025, had terminated with a visit to His Royal Highness, CD. Akran, Oba of Badagry and the Oba of Ibereko.
There is no gain saying the fact that the Customs Comptroller had done was not different from what past Area Controllers of the Command had done: romance with the Traditional Institutions and the other security agencies to make their job easy to avoid sabotage.
The Customs Area who had taken one message to the people in all the places visited was said to have emphasized the Command’s unwavering commitment to promoting strong relationships with the importers and their Agents and other stakeholders, reinforcing security measures and promoting seamless trade facilitation in the region to enhance the Command revenue generation.
Compt. Oramalugo, who could not hide his feelings may have taken advantage of the opportunity provided in meeting the referred Oba of Badagry and Oba of Ibereko, to re-emphasize, ‘’the crucial role of Traditional Institutions in maintaining peace and stability in Nigeria’’.
He was said to have reiterated the importance of the synergy between the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, under the current Leadership of Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, and the Local Authorities in ensuring a secure and conducive environment for Legitimate Trade transactions, across the border.
Determined to succeed, in the Command anti-smuggling drive and further enhance inter-agency cooperation that will make the Seme and its environs, land border routes, creeks, watersides or sea, a no-go area for smugglers around the Badagry axis, may have encouraged the Customs Comptroller to visit top security agencies chief at Seme and Badagry, including the and the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS and the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base.
He was said to have also, visited the Nigerian Army, 243 RECCE Battalion Regiment, the Nigerian Police Force, NPF, under the close watch of Kayode Egbetokun, to familiarize himself with the top officials at the Badagry Police Division, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC’’.
An eyewitness account confirmed that the discussions between the Seme Command, Area Controller, and the visited security agencies top officials around the Badagry axis was said to have centered on ‘’intelligence -sharing, improving border security and fostering more coordinated approach to tackling smuggling and other trans-border crimes’’.
Aware of what obtains at the Land border Community inn terms of movement of trans-border trucks ladened with cargoes may have informed why he was said to have continued to emphasize the need for effective stakeholder collaboration, describing it as a ‘’milestone of the Command’s strategy to optimize revenue generation, enhance border security and contribute to national development’’.
Compt. Oramalugo, who has the mandate of the Customs Comptroller General to go all out to sanitize the border Community from the activities of smugglers, may have shocked the Paramount Rulers and Security agencies Chiefs visited at Badagry, that ‘’ the mandate of Seme Command goes beyond revenue collection and payment into the Federation Account but extends ‘’to ensuring national security and fostering economic growth’’. It was not surprising why he had said that ‘’strong partnerships with traditional institutions and security agencies are vital in achieving the Command ‘s mandate.
The man of Letters, had alluded to the fact that when he was redeployed to Seme Command from the Oyo/ Osun Command, the CGC, had had told him specifically, ‘’to meet all the sister agencies and seek synergy with them if he really wants to succeed in tackling smuggling activities at the border Community.
He may have read in between the lines the CGC’s, words that he was said to told the security Chiefs during is recent visit to their offices that he needs their ”collaboration to combat smuggling activities at the Seme joint border Community and its environs.
Putting on the garb of an Area Controller who has come ”to rid Seme border of smugglers but needed the support of other security agencies to achieve the set target”, he was said to have told the security Chiefs who were watching his lips that he has been posted to the Seme Command ‘’to build a synergy with them to succeed in the Command’s anti-smuggling drive.
The Seme Command Area Controller, may have made a passionate to the Security agencies personnel at Badagry to assure him that when his Patrol Team officers are overwhelmed by smugglers who are going about with sophisticated weapons to carry out their nefarious trade, ’’you will always come to assist us to combat them’’.
He may have alluded to his incredible anti-smuggling efoorts at Kebbi Command the much talked about Oyo/Osun Command, where he was said to have made smugglers operating around the Saki, Iseyin, land border areas and other border Communities around the two southern western states with Benin Republic see fire, forcing many of them to abandon the smuggling business and embrace genuine trade to avoid playing into Compt. Oramalugo’s hands.
This may have informed why he had sounded it loud and clear to the hearing of the security agencies Chiefs around Badagry axis that he has been posted to Seme Command to replace Compt. Kolade , who has retired from the service ‘’to build synergy with other security agencies to succeed as I did in other Commands I had served in the past years.
While Compt. Oramalugo, has perfected plans to deal decisively with the unrepentant smugglers shuttling between Oyo, Osun, Ogun to Seme Jurisdictions in Lagos state, Compt. SM Wadinda, has assumed duties as the new Area Controller of the Lagos Industrial Area Command, LIAC.
She tOOK over from Compt. Rebecca Chokor, who has retired from the service after 35 years , going by the Federal Civil service rules. Compt. Wandinda, was said to have resumed in her new office on Thursday, February 6, 2025, with a promise ‘’to run an open door policy’’ where officers and stakeholders could easily h access her office ‘’to enhance trade facilitation’’ .
She was said to have drawn the attention of the officers and men of the Command that given that focus of the CGC, is to enhance trade facilitation, the Command shall work in line with the policy thrusts of ‘’Collaboration, innovation and Consolidation ’’ to achieve the lofty objective.
At a maiden meeting with the Command Heads of Unit and stakeholders, on February 13, 2025, at the Command premises, she was said to have told the DCs and other stakeholders present that ”it was to strengthen collaboration with the excise factory operators to enhance the Command revenue collection , stressing that the Command would work assiduously ”towards achieving an enhanced effective cooperation between the LIAC and the Excise Factory Traders on Trade Facilitation and excise regulation compliance”.
Appealing to the officers and men of the Command to show more commitment and be dedicated to their job.
She was said to have used the opportunity provided at the maiden meeting to remind the Unit Heads and their officers of their responsibility ‘’to supervise, collect and account for excise duty from the factories producing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages”.
The LIAC, Area Controller, who ”monitors the production processes at the excise factories, by ensuring compliance with excise regulations and facilitate trade by providing all the needed support and guidance to the companies to operate appears to have encouraged to sit up.
Compt. Wadinda, has a word of advice for the excise factory operators and other stakeholders ”to acquire the knowledge of provisions in the Customs Management Act, 2023, passed by the National Assembly signed into Law by former President Muhammadu Buhari for a ‘’seamless excise trade and stronger trade relationship with the Command under her Leadership’’.
She may have gladdened the heart of the excise factory operators and other stakeholders at the maiden meeting when she promised to use her Leadership position ‘’to build and improve on the legacy left by her predecessor, Compt. Chokor , rtd as well as upholding the core values of the service professionally’’.
