Kaila hits ground running, rallies security agencies to safeguard Seme trade corridor
Maureen Aguta
The newly deployed Customs Area Controller of the Seme Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, has set the tone for his administration with a strategic familiarisation tour of key security formations along the Lagos–Abidjan corridor, underscoring the critical role of inter-agency collaboration in safeguarding Nigeria’s economic gateway.
CAC Kaila, who commenced the outreach on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, visited the 243 Recce Battalion at Ibereko Barracks, Badagry, where he outlined his operational priorities anchored on cooperation, intelligence sharing, and coordinated enforcement.
Describing the Seme border as a vital artery for regional trade and mobility, the Customs boss emphasised the complexity and sensitivity of activities within the corridor, noting that its strategic importance demands sustained synergy among all security stakeholders.
“Seme border remains a critical gateway for trade and services between Nigeria and neighbouring countries. The sheer volume of trade, human traffic, and cross-border engagements underscores its strategic economic significance,” Kaila stated. “This reality makes continuous collaboration, intelligence sharing, and mutual support not just desirable, but imperative.”
He stressed that strengthened partnerships among security agencies would not only enhance border security but also contribute to economic stability and improved livelihoods for residents of border communities. Kaila further called for deeper institutional cooperation in delivering on their shared mandate of securing the nation’s borders while facilitating legitimate trade.
Responding, the Commanding Officer of the 243 Recce Battalion, Lt. Colonel Ambrose Ikoro, lauded the Nigeria Customs Service for its pivotal role in border management and trade facilitation, reaffirming the Nigerian Army’s commitment to sustaining and advancing existing cooperation frameworks.
“I am well aware of the strong synergy between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Customs Service,” Ikoro said. “We are committed to not only sustaining but improving on this relationship. Our Chief of Army Staff has made it clear that units operating in border areas must support all relevant security agencies, including Customs.”
Beyond the Ibereko engagement, Comptroller Kaila extended his familiarisation visits to other critical formations, including the Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base, Badagry; the 15 Field Engineer Regiment of the Nigerian Army in Topo, Badagry; and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) office at Seme.
The visits, according to the Command, signal a deliberate push to reinforce inter-agency cohesion, dismantle operational bottlenecks, and enhance efficiency along one of West Africa’s busiest trade corridors.
With this early move, Kaila appears poised to prioritise collaborative security architecture as a cornerstone of his leadership at the Seme Command, a development observers say could significantly boost trade facilitation while tightening the noose on smuggling and other transborder crimes.