Kaila Back on a Familiar Turf, Assumes Leadership As Customs New Sherriff at Seme Border with Optimism
- Pledges Consolidation, Discipline
- Past Achievements
Comptroller AS Kaila, taking over the leadership baton from Compt. Wale Adenuga, immediate past CAC, CAC, Seme Command, NCS
‘Laudable’, has been described the recent leadership change at the Seme Border Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), which witnessed Comptroller Shuaibu Kaila, a household name in the camp of smugglers and economic saboteurs, taking over the mantle of leadership from erstwhile CAC of the command, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, who recently bowed out of the service meritoriously.
For many industry watchers, it was indeed a ‘come back’ home for Kaila, and a match-fit into the huge shoe size, performance-wise, left behind at the command by the outgone CAC. This is so to many who believed Kaila has come back home to a familiar terrain, Seme Command, where he has seen it all in various capacities and under different ranks, and which witnessed many enthusiasts turn out enmasse to give him a rousing welcome.
Comptroller AS Kaila, CAC Seme Command, NCS
Kaila officially took over the mantle of leadership from Comptroller Wale Adenuga at the ECOWAS Joint Border Post, Seme-Krake Border Post, on Wednesday, March 18th, 2026, marking the beginning of another era as the Customs Area Controller of the Command.
It is indeed a big size of shoes that the new customs Sheriff is stepping into judging by the performance disclosure made by the erstwhile Customs Boss, Adenuga, who, while speaking during the handover ceremony, said the command under his watch increased its revenue profile from a mere N5.17 million to a whooping N1.5 billion. He described the achievement as a reflection of the dedication and hard work of officers and men of the command, and at same time urging them to cooperate with the new controller in order to achieve greatness.
In his own remarks, the new customs Sheriff, Comptroller AS Kaila, while commending his predecessor for what he termed a legacy of sterling leadership, whose tenure was marked by strategic gains in revenue generation, anti-smuggling operations, and stakeholder engagement, described Seme Command as familiar terrain, having previously served in various capacities within the command.
He however called on officers and men of the command to remain disciplined and professional in their operational conduct, emphasizing that unity and ethical conduct would be critical to achieving success.
While reaffirming the core mandates of the Nigeria Customs Service, which include revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling, and national security, he pledged to prioritize these areas while soliciting the support and cooperation of all stakeholders.
He expressed confidence that collective efforts would drive the command to greater heights despite the challenges ahead.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of various security and government agencies such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Port Health Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Air Force, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), as well as some community leaders in Badagry and Seme.
… THE MAN ‘AS KAILA’
Comptroller AS Kaila is a customs officer of high repute whose antecedents speaks volume when it comes to deployment of experience and technical know-how to beat the antics of duty evaders.
Born on the 17th of March, 1967, Kaila hails from Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of Bauchi state.
He obtained his Bsc in Political Science from Ekiti State University (EKSU) and M.Ed Sociology of Education at Lagos State University (LASU).
AS Kaila enlisted to join the Nigeria Customs Service on the 1st of January, 1992. His first training was in 1994 at the Ikeja Customs Training College (ICTC) where he undertook the first compulsory basic training course. His first posting was to Seme Border Area Command, after which he had transverse several formations and commands such as Seme, Sokoto, Kano, Adamawa, FOU ‘A’ and TINCAN.
Courses he has undertaken include Basic Customs Course in year 1994 at Customs College, Ikeja, Strike Force course in 2004 at the Police College in Ikeja, Course on NICIS, Refresher course at same Customs College, Ikeja, among others.
His hobbies include travelling, football and reading and he is happily married with children.
… A peep into Comptroller Shuaibu Kaila Recent Sojourn
Comptroller Shuaibu Kaila was decorated with his full Comptroller rank on September 16th, 2026 by the Zone ‘A’ Zonal Coordinator, ACG Babandede in a colourful decoration ceremony held at Ikeja Customs Training College.
Kaila was first noticed by this medium few years back when he cut his professional teeth in anti-smuggling war serving as Officer In Charge of Operations at Gbaji Bridge Checkpoint with Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’ team, under the then AC Gidado Mahmud who recently retired as a Comptroller of Customs. The team succeeded in taming the restiveness of the notorious Gbaji Bridge Boys and smugglers at Seme/Lagos Expressway corridor and achieving humongous seizures that led to several commendations.
Prior to his attaining his full Comptroller status, Kaila served in several notable formations across the southwest axis as a vibrant enforcement officer and left indelible footprints. One will not forget in a hurry his anti-smuggling exploits while he held sway at the defunct CGC Strike Force Zone ‘A’ as the Second in Command, Deputy Coordinator, as well as at National border Drill, Eleme Checkpoint in Rivers State under Zone ‘C’, where he performed remarkably.
Kaila also cut his teeth in customs administration, as a revenue officer while he served in different capacities at Tincan Island Port Area Command Lagos, notably among which included Deputy Comptroller in charge of Bonded Terminals before his Comptroller promotion.
His vibrant anti-smuggling record earned him his first posting as a Comptroller to Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘D’ Bauchi as Controller in charge, where he gave smugglers and economic saboteurs a tough run for their illegal activities, and recorded several notable seizures and feat to the admiration of all.
The unit under the watch of Comptroller Kaila, after giving stern warning for smugglers to keep off the zone during his maiden address, vehemently fought smugglers and economic saboteurs operating within the 9 states of the zone and recorded several major breakthroughs in its anti-smuggling campaign.
As contained in one of the unit’s press statement, the maiden one to be precise, the unit recorded interceptions and seizures of contraband items worth over N82,114,567 Duty Paid Value between December 8 and 19, 2025, within the short period of his assumption of office at FOU Zone ‘D’, even as the Controller noted that the success of the operation was achieved following a series of coordinated anti-smuggling operations, effective intelligence profiling, and the professionalism of officers and men of the unit carried out in the period under review, which underscored the Unit’s intensified enforcement posture.
Highpoint among the seizures include Wildlife products, Controlled drugs, Narcotics and Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), in which Kaila noted that the relatively low cases of smuggling recorded were as a result of intensified patrols.
In addition, he said the unit strengthened its operations through improved collaboration with other security and regulatory agencies, enabling effective intelligence sharing and joint operations to dismantle smuggling networks across the zone.
Comptroller Kaila warned traders to desist from illegal activities, assuring that the unit would not rest until smuggling is reduced to the barest minimum, while also pledging to intensify public sensitization and media engagement to raise awareness of the economic dangers of smuggling. He commended the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR PhD and his management team for their support, the officers of FOU Zone ‘D’ Bauchi and the media for their commitment, and reaffirming the unit’s dedication to border security, national development and economic growth.
Similarly, as contained in another press briefing statement in January, the unit’s unrelenting enforcement posture also led to the interception of smuggled goods valued at N229,422,669 DPV in Bauchi State under its jurisdiction, in a major anti-smuggling operation carried out on January 23rd, 2026.
Speaking during a press briefing, Comptroller Kaila said the operation, which spanned over three weeks, was driven by credible intelligence and meticulous monitoring of suspected smuggling routes.
According to Controller, the items seized during the operation included One Toyota Urban Cruiser (2026 model), Two Toyota Acura Cross vehicles (2025 models), a Citroën Jumper bus, and a Peugeot Boxer, which were used as means of conveyance.
Other items recovered were 14,750 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), 283 pieces of fresh donkey skin, 102 sacks of dried donkey meat, and several bales and sacks of second hand clothing. Comptroller Kaila noted that the seizures underscored the importance of intelligence driven enforcement and inter-agency collaboration in combating smuggling, as he commended the officers and men of the Unit, particularly those in Zondi and Bochi, for their dedication and professionalism in curbing illicit trade along border corridors and inland routes.
Furthermore in the statement, Comptroller Kaila during the briefing handed over the seized Donkey Skins and Meat to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) for further investigation and disposal in line with established regulations, while investigations were said to be ongoing in order to apprehend those behind the smuggling network.
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