By Seun Ibiyemi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos, has appointed Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni as its 30th Acting Comptroller.
Afeni assumed office on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, following the retirement of Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, who handed over after recording significant enforcement and revenue recovery achievements during his tenure.
The leadership transition took place at the unit’s conference hall in Ikeja and was witnessed by senior customs officers, stakeholders, colleagues, friends and well-wishers of the incoming and outgoing Comptrollers.
Also present were Acting Customs Area Controllers from the Port and Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML), Ogun 1 Area Command and the Enugu/Ebonyi/Anambra Area Command, among other senior officers and stakeholders.
In his inaugural address, Afeni pledged to provide what he described as “purposeful, professional and accountable leadership” in advancing the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.
He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management team of the Service for the confidence reposed in him through his appointment.
The new Acting Comptroller said his administration would focus on intelligence-led enforcement, revenue protection and the protection of Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
Afeni said enforcement operations under his watch would remain “firm, lawful and respectful of human dignity”, while legitimate trade would be facilitated through constructive engagement with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs brokers and other stakeholders.
He also called for stronger collaboration between the Customs Service and sister security and law-enforcement agencies to tackle trans-border crimes.
According to him, such collaboration would be critical to curbing the illicit movement of drugs, arms, currencies, counterfeit goods and other prohibited items across Nigeria’s borders.
Afeni further pledged to prioritise the welfare and professional development of officers, while strengthening institutional discipline within the unit.
He said regular sporting activities would also be encouraged as part of efforts to improve officers’ physical fitness, teamwork and work-life balance.
In his handing-over address, the immediate past Comptroller, Gambo Aliyu, described the ceremony as a formal transfer of leadership and an opportunity to reflect on the responsibilities and challenges associated with commanding FOU Zone ‘A’.
Aliyu said his administration placed emphasis on combating smuggling, revenue fraud, concealment, under-declaration, false declaration and the movement of prohibited goods.
According to him, the unit intercepted 779 smuggling attempts involving a wide range of prohibited and restricted items.
The seizures included more than 20,900 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 61 used vehicles, thousands of used compressors and clothing items, foreign poultry products and 4,418 jerrycans of vegetable oil.
The unit also intercepted 12,606 parcels of cannabis weighing 6,194.3 kilogrammes, 2.30 kilogrammes of cocaine, more than 3,000 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), equivalent to 76,505 litres, and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84 kilogrammes.
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The total duty-paid value of the seized items was put at ₦13.075 billion.
Beyond its enforcement activities, Aliyu said the unit recovered ₦3.192 billion in revenue between December 10, 2025 and September 24, 2026.
He said the amount represented 798 per cent of the unit’s ₦400 million annual revenue target for 2026.
The recovery also represented a 776 per cent increase over the ₦411.45 million recovered during the corresponding period in 2025.
Aliyu attributed the performance to enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted scrutiny of suspicious declarations, teamwork, professionalism and collaboration with sister agencies and stakeholders.
He stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation, noting that “no enforcement agency can succeed in isolation.”
While congratulating Afeni on his appointment, Aliyu said the incoming Acting Comptroller was taking over a unit with a strong operational foundation.
He charged Afeni to lead with fairness, firmness, courage and sound judgment as he assumes responsibility for the strategic enforcement operations of FOU Zone ‘A’.
Aliyu also commended officers of the unit for their loyalty, discipline and resilience throughout his tenure.
He expressed confidence in the new leadership and prayed for Afeni’s success and the continued growth of the Nigeria Customs Service.
