By Sandra Chukwunyere
Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni has assumed leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos, as the unit’s 30th Acting Comptroller, following the retirement of Comptroller Gambo Aliyu.
Afeni formally assumed duty on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, during a handing-over ceremony held at the unit’s conference hall and attended by senior Customs officers, stakeholders, colleagues, friends and well-wishers of the incoming and outgoing Comptrollers.
Also in attendance were the Acting Customs Area Controllers of 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 purposeful, professional and accountable leadership in furtherance of the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.
He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (PhD, MFR, DSM, fnipr, fnij, psc+), and the management of the Service for the confidence reposed in him.
The new Acting Comptroller said his administration would prioritise intelligence-led enforcement, revenue protection and the prevention of revenue leakages, while safeguarding Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
Afeni said enforcement activities under his leadership would be firm, lawful and respectful of human dignity. He also pledged to facilitate legitimate trade through constructive engagement with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs brokers and other stakeholders.
He called for stronger collaboration with sister security and law-enforcement agencies to combat trans-border crimes, including the illicit movement of drugs, arms, currencies, counterfeit goods and other prohibited items.
The Acting Comptroller further pledged to give attention to officers’ welfare, professional development and institutional discipline, while promoting regular sporting activities to enhance physical fitness, teamwork and work-life balance.
Aliyu Highlights Achievements:
In his handing-over address, the immediate past Comptroller, retired Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, formally transferred leadership of the unit to Afeni and reflected on the responsibilities and challenges encountered during his tenure.
Aliyu said his administration focused on combating smuggling, revenue fraud, concealment, under-declaration, false declaration and the movement of prohibited goods.
Highlighting some of the operational achievements recorded during his tenure, Aliyu disclosed that the unit intercepted 779 smuggling attempts involving various prohibited and illegally imported items.
The seizures included over 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.
Other seizures included 12,606 parcels of cannabis weighing 6,194.3kg, 2.30kg of cocaine, over 3,000 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), equivalent to 76,505 litres, and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg.
According to Aliyu, the seized items had a total duty-paid value of ₦13,075,056,616.00.
On revenue recovery, Aliyu reported that the unit recovered ₦3,192,511,547.52 between December 10, 2025, and September 24, 2026.
He said the figure represented 798 per cent of the unit’s ₦400 million annual revenue recovery target for 2026 and a 776 per cent increase over the ₦411,451,901.18 recovered during the corresponding period in 2025.
Aliyu attributed the revenue performance to enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted examination of suspicious declarations, teamwork, professionalism and collaboration with sister agencies and stakeholders.
He stressed that “no enforcement agency can succeed in isolation”, while urging continued cooperation among relevant government agencies, security organisations and stakeholders.
While congratulating Afeni on his assumption of office, Aliyu assured him that he was taking over an established operational foundation.
He charged his successor to lead with fairness, firmness, courage and sound judgment, while maintaining the standards expected of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The retired Comptroller also thanked officers of FOU Zone ‘A’ for their loyalty, discipline and resilience throughout his tenure.
He prayed for the success of the new leadership, the continued growth of the Nigeria Customs Service and the security of Nigeria.
The statement was signed by Hussaini Abdullahi, Chief Superintendent of Customs and Public Relations Officer, Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos, on September 30, 2026.
