The newly appointed acting comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Facility (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni, has pledged tougher anti-smuggling operations across the South-West, promising intelligence-led enforcement, tighter earnings protection and stronger teamwork alongside security agencies.
Afeni, who assumed office as the 30th Acting Comptroller of the strategic enforcement unit, said his administration would pursue “deliberate, professional and accountable command” whereas protecting Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
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He spoke on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, during the official handing-over ceremony at the FOU Zone ‘A’ conference hall in Ikeja, where retired Comptroller Gambo Aliyu transferred management of the unit to him.
The fresh Acting Comptroller said enforcement under his watch would be “firm, lawful and civil of individual dignity”, during the time that lawful exchange would be facilitated throughout constructive engagement together with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs brokers and other stakeholders.
He moreover pledged closer collaboration together with sister security and law-enforcement agencies to tackle trans-border crimes, particularly the illicit movement of drugs, arms, currencies, counterfeit goods and other prohibited items.
Afeni said his administration would additionally focus on blocking proceeds leakages, strengthening competent standards and improving officers’ welfare and development.
His assumption of office comes against the backdrop of beneficial enforcement and salary recovery recorded by the unit under his predecessor.
Aliyu disclosed that FOU Zone ‘A’ recovered N3.19 billion in sales betwixt December 10, 2025 and September 24, 2026, representing 798 per cent of its N400 million annual objective for 2026.
The N3,192,511,547.52 recovered too represented a 776 per cent expand over the N411,451,901.18 recovered during the corresponding period in 2025.
The outgoing comptroller further disclosed that the unit intercepted 779 smuggling attempts involving goods including a whole duty-paid value of N13.075 billion.
Between the seizures were additional 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 furthermore intercepted 12,606 parcels of cannabis weighing 6,194.3 kilogrammes, 2.30 kilogrammes of cocaine, extra than 3,000 jerrycans of Top-tier Motor Spirit (PMS), equivalent to 76,505 litres, and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84 kilogrammes.
Aliyu attributed the sales and enforcement results to “enhanced exposure profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted introspection into suspicious declarations, teamwork, professionalism and collaboration together with sister agencies and stakeholders”.
He stressed that “no enforcement agency can succeed in isolation”.
Although formally handing over to Afeni, Aliyu urged his successor to consolidate the gains recorded by the unit and charged him to “direct including fairness, firmness, courage and sound judgment”.
The ceremony was attended by senior Customs officers, stakeholders, colleagues, friends and well-wishers of the outgoing and incoming comptrollers.
In the midst of those demonstrate were Acting Customs Area Controllers of the Port and Terminal Multipurpose Restricted (PTML), Ogun 1 Area Command and the Enugu/Ebonyi/Anambra Command, alongside other senior officers and stakeholders.
Afeni, in addition to his enforcement agenda, pledged to encourage usual sporting activities within officers to stimulate fitness, teamwork and effort-life balance.
He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-Broad of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the method of the Facility for the confidence reposed in him, promising to deploy the unit’s resources towards advancing the NCS mandate and protecting the nationwide economy.
Source: Customs Boss Pledges Tougher Anti-Smuggling Operations In South-West
