CGC Adeniyi Commissions COWA Office ,Other Facilities At Seme Command, Reiterates Commitment To Merit, Fairness in Customs

CGC Adeniyi Commissions COWA Office ,Other Facilities At Seme Command, Reiterates Commitment To Merit, Fairness in Customs
……Dr Oramalugo pours encomiums on the CGC,warns smugglers to avoid SEME corridors

Newly commissioned COWA Office, SEME Customs Command

By Frank Odinukaeze

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on Monday commissioned a suite of new welfare and administrative facilities at the Seme Area Command, including the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) Office, a Senior Officers Mess, and a Gymnasium.

In a ceremony attended by senior customs officials, other government agencies, and community stakeholders, CGC Adeniyi emphasized the importance of fairness, meritocracy, and professionalism in the Service, reiterating his belief that capacity and integrity—not origin or connections—should guide appointments and deployments within Customs.

(L-R )CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, receiving a portrait gift from SEME Area Controller,Dr Ben Oramalugo 

“I see myself as a product of merit and fairness, and I believe that anyone, irrespective of where they come from, should be given an opportunity if they are capable,” Adeniyi said. “Whether your forefathers landed in Badagry in 1752 or not, if you have the capacity, we will give you a chance.”

R-L CGC of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR receiving a book written by Dr Ben Oramalugo,Dr Oramalugo middle,and his elegant wife

The CGC paid glowing tribute to the Customs Officers’ Wives Association, led locally by the coordinator of COWA, for their continued support and commitment to the welfare of officers and their families. He praised his wife, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, for her leadership in advancing skills acquisition and economic empowerment programs for customs officers’ wives nationwide.

He announced that the first set of trainees from the Customs Officers’ Wives Skills Acquisition Center in Abuja—launched by First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu—would be graduating later in the week. The center offers training in areas such as bread making, hairdressing, computer literacy, and small business operations.

“We are very delighted that our wives have been useful and invaluable ambassadors. Their support has helped us function better as officers,” he noted.

Turning attention to infrastructure development at the Seme Command, Adeniyi hailed the new gym and officers’ mess as part of a broader welfare package designed to promote work-life balance and healthy living, especially given the command’s distance from urban centers like Lagos and Badagry.

He also commended the Customs Area Comptroller for Seme Command,Dr Ben Oramalugo ,noting his consistent record of excellence and community engagement. Adeniyi revealed that the officer’s track record had been a deciding factor in his strategic redeployment across key commands over the years.

Speaking on internal processes, Adeniyi assured officers that future deployments and promotions would continue to be merit-based. He disclosed that during the last set of controller deployments, assignments were based strictly on promotion exam rankings, ensuring that high performers were matched with the most strategic commands.

“We can achieve a very healthy balance between fairness and merit and still get our system going. Your performance will speak louder than any recommendation. Prepare well for your promotion exams, because not everyone can move up in the pyramid,” he advised.

In closing, the CGC highlighted the historic and strategic relevance of the Seme command to Nigeria’s trade infrastructure, referencing the site as the location of the nation’s first customs post in the early 1900s. He also celebrated the launch of the SIGMAT program at the ECOWAS joint border post earlier in the day, positioning it as a significant leap toward modernizing cross-border trade management through technology.

The commissioning ceremony marks another milestone in the Customs Service’s broader efforts to strengthen personnel welfare, promote operational excellence, and foster inclusive leadership across all its commands.
Earlier,in a passionate and history-laden welcome address, Comptroller Dr. Ben Oramalugo expressed deep gratitude and pride in receiving the CGC and his entourage in Badagry, an ancient city renowned for its historical and commercial significance. Drawing on Badagry’s storied past, Dr. Oramalugo recounted its prominence in the transatlantic slave trade and its place as the birthplace of Christianity in Nigeria, emphasizing the symbolic importance of the commissioning taking place in such a town.

“This event is more than the unveiling of physical structures—it is a celebration of our shared vision and commitment to the welfare and morale of our officers,” said Oramalugo. “The new COWA office complex will enhance community engagement and support for officers’ families, and serve as a hub for innovation and positive impact.”

The facility, which includes a renovated office and gym house, was described as a testament to the Customs leadership’s dedication to officer welfare, operational excellence, and collaborative service delivery. Oramalugo praised CGC Adeniyi’s reforms and transformative leadership, noting the significant changes within the Nigeria Customs Service under his watch.

“We now have a humane, hardworking Comptroller-General—a man who picks up your call and listens,” he added, referencing recent national accolades awarded to CGC Adeniyi, including Personality of the Year awards from both Nigerian and African institutions.

Highlighting recent achievements by the Seme Command, Oramalugo announced that from January to April 2025, the command generated over N2.88 trillion in revenue and facilitated exports of over 184,000 metric tons, valued at N36 billion. Anti-smuggling operations also led to seizures with a duty-paid value of N800 million.

Oramalugo also touched on his commitment to national safety, particularly in the fight against fake pharmaceutical products—a personal mission driven by past tragedies caused by such products. He cited past seizures in Kebbi and Oyo States, earning him commendations and national awards.

In recognizing the role of COWA and his wife’s support, the Comptroller emotionally thanked her and his team of officers, describing the path to the commissioning as a collective effort marked by sacrifice, discipline, and dedication.

The event concluded with a resounding welcome to the CGC and a call to remember the resilient history of Badagry. “This is a land of people with strong will,” Oramalugo said, recalling the 1803 mass suicide of Igbo slaves in Georgia who had been trafficked through Badagry.
In appreciation,Dr Ben Oramalugo’s adorable wife ,and Chairman of COWA SEME Customs Command,thanked both the CGC of Customs and her husband, Comptroller Ben Oramalugo for giving them what she called, “this beautiful edifice”.

She equally thanked the national Chairman of COWA,Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi for her exceptional leadership and commitment to the cause of the COWA members.
The commissioning marks a new chapter in the Seme Command’s history, underscoring a renewed commitment to excellence, officer welfare, and national development.

The presentation cof a beautiful  giant  frame of the CGC by Dr.Ben Oramalugo summed up a remarkable and historical event.