The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone 'A' in Ikeja, Lagos, has a new Acting Comptroller, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni. He took charge on October 3, 2026, succeeding Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, who retired after a meritorious tenure. Afeni, in his inaugural address, vowed to provide "purposeful, professional and accountable leadership" to further the NCS mandate. He expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the Service's management team for the confidence reposed in him.
Afeni's administration will focus on "intelligence-led enforcement," blocking revenue leakages, and protecting Nigeria's economic and security interests. He emphasized that enforcement activities would be "firm, lawful and respectful of human dignity," while legitimate trade would be facilitated through constructive engagement with stakeholders, including traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, and customs brokers. The acting Comptroller also called for stronger collaboration with sister security and law-enforcement agencies to combat trans-border crimes.
Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, in his handing-over address, expressed gratitude and humility, marking the occasion as a formal transfer of leadership. He reflected on the responsibilities and challenges of commanding the unit, which included combating smuggling, revenue fraud, concealment, under-declaration, false declaration, and the movement of prohibited goods. Aliyu's administration achieved significant successes, including the interception of 779 smuggling attempts involving various items.
The items seized by the unit under Aliyu's leadership included over 20,900 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 61 used vehicles, thousands of used compressors, clothing items, foreign poultry products, and 4,418 jerrycans of vegetable oil. The unit also seized 12,606 parcels of cannabis weighing 6,194.3kg, 2.30kg of cocaine, over 3,000 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (76,505 litres), and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg. These seizures had a total duty-paid value of N13 billion.
In addition to seizures, the unit, under Aliyu's leadership, achieved remarkable revenue recovery performance between December 10, 2025, and September 24, 2026. The unit recovered N3 billion, representing 798 per cent of its N400 million annual target for 2026. Aliyu attributed these achievements to "enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted introspection into suspicious declarations, teamwork, professionalism and collaboration with sister agencies and stakeholders."
Afeni has also pledged attention to officers' welfare, professional development, institutional discipline, and regular sporting activities to promote fitness, teamwork, and work-life balance. The acting Comptroller aims to build on the successes of his predecessor while addressing new challenges facing the unit. He emphasized the importance of teamwork and collaboration with stakeholders in achieving the unit's goals.
The change in leadership at FOU Zone 'A' is expected to bring new perspectives and strategies to the unit's operations. Afeni's inauguration and Aliyu's retirement mark a significant milestone in the unit's history. The unit's performance under Afeni's leadership will be closely watched, given its critical role in enforcing customs regulations and protecting Nigeria's economic interests.
Key points
- Oladapo Olukayode Afeni takes charge as the 30th Acting Comptroller of Federal Operations Unit Zone 'A' in Lagos.
- Afeni's administration will focus on "intelligence-led enforcement," blocking revenue leakages, and protecting Nigeria's economic and security interests.
- The unit, under Aliyu's leadership, achieved significant successes, including the interception of 779 smuggling attempts and revenue recovery of N3 billion.
