The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos, has entered a new phase of leadership following the assumption of office by Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni as the unit’s 30th Acting Comptroller.

Afeni formally took over on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, following the retirement of Comptroller Gambo Aliyu. The leadership transition took place at the unit’s conference hall in Ikeja and was attended by senior Customs officers, stakeholders, colleagues and well-wishers.

In his inaugural address, Afeni pledged to pursue purposeful, professional and accountable leadership while strengthening the unit’s role in protecting government revenue and Nigeria’s wider economic and security interests.

He identified intelligence-led enforcement and the prevention of revenue leakages as key priorities under his administration. He also said Customs operations would remain firm and lawful while respecting human dignity.

At the same time, Afeni said legitimate businesses would be supported through constructive engagement with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, licensed customs agents and other stakeholders.

The new Acting Comptroller also called for stronger cooperation between Customs and other security and law-enforcement agencies in tackling trans-border crimes and the movement of prohibited goods.

Beyond enforcement, Afeni said his administration would pay attention to officers’ welfare, professional development and institutional discipline. He also announced plans to encourage regular sporting activities among personnel as part of efforts to promote physical fitness, teamwork and work-life balance.

Afeni expressed appreciation to Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the management of the Service for the confidence placed in him, promising to deploy the resources of the unit towards advancing the Customs mandate.

The change of leadership comes as FOU Zone ‘A’ records significant enforcement and revenue-recovery figures under the outgoing Comptroller, Gambo Aliyu.

Aliyu disclosed that the unit intercepted 779 smuggling attempts between December 10, 2025 and September 24, 2026. The seizures had a combined duty-paid value of ₦13,075,056,616.

The items intercepted included more than 20,900 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 61 used vehicles, used compressors and second-hand clothing, foreign poultry products and 4,418 jerrycans of vegetable oil.

Other seizures reported by the outgoing comptroller included 12,606 parcels of cannabis weighing 6,194.3 kilogrammes, 2.30 kilogrammes of cocaine, more than 76,505 litres of Premium Motor Spirit and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84 kilogrammes.

On revenue recovery, Aliyu said FOU Zone ‘A’ recovered ₦3,192,511,547.52 during the period under review. According to the figures he presented, the amount represented 798 per cent of the unit’s ₦400 million annual revenue target for 2026.

He further stated that the recovery was 776 per cent higher than the ₦411,451,901.18 recorded during the corresponding period in 2025. Aliyu attributed the performance to improved risk profiling, tighter compliance checks, examination of suspicious declarations, teamwork and cooperation with other agencies and stakeholders.

The outgoing comptroller also stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation in tackling smuggling and other cross-border crimes, saying enforcement agencies need to work together to effectively fulfil their responsibilities.

As he handed over, Aliyu urged Afeni to build on the operational gains recorded during his tenure and lead with fairness, firmness, courage and sound judgment.

The transition places Afeni at the head of one of the Customs Service’s key enforcement formations, with responsibilities spanning anti-smuggling operations, revenue protection and support for legitimate trade.

His stated priorities suggest that the new administration will seek to combine stronger intelligence-based enforcement with engagement with businesses and other stakeholders, while maintaining cooperation with sister security agencies.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia