LAGOS, SEPT 30, 2026 — The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos, has a new Acting Comptroller.
Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, formally assumed office as the 30th Acting Comptroller of the Unit, taking over from Comptroller Gambo Aliyu who retired after a distinguished service.
The handing-over ceremony, held at the Unit’s conference hall, was attended by friends, colleagues and well-wishers, including Acting Customs Area Controllers of PTML, Ogun 1, and Enugu/Ebonyi/Anambra Commands, senior officers and stakeholders.
Afeni: Intelligence-Led, Firm But Humane Enforcement
In his inaugural address, Acting Comptroller Afeni pledged “purposeful, professional and accountable leadership.”
He thanked Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management team for the confidence reposed in him.
Afeni said his administration would pursue intelligence-led enforcement, block revenue leakages, and protect Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
“Enforcement will be firm, lawful and respectful of human dignity,” he said, adding that legitimate trade will be facilitated through constructive engagement with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, brokers and stakeholders.
He called for stronger collaboration with sister security agencies to combat trans-border crimes — drugs, arms, illicit currencies, counterfeit and prohibited goods.
He also promised focus on officers’ welfare, professional development, discipline, and regular sporting activities for fitness and work-life balance.
Aliyu Bows Out With Big Numbers
In his valedictory address, retired Comptroller Gambo Aliyu reflected on his tenure which focused on smuggling, revenue fraud, concealment, under-declaration and false declaration.
He reeled out major interceptions — 779 smuggling attempts with total duty-paid value of N13,075,056,616.00:
Over 20,900 bags of foreign parboiled rice
61 used vehicles
Thousands of used compressors and clothing
Foreign poultry products
4,418 jerrycans of vegetable oil
12,606 parcels of cannabis weighing 6,194.3kg
2.30kg of cocaine
Over 3,000 jerrycans of PMS (76,505 litres)
22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg
On revenue recovery, Aliyu reported N3,192,511,547.52 recovered between December 10, 2025 and September 24, 2026 — representing 798%of the Unit’s N400 million annual target for 2026, and a 776%increase over N411,451,901.18 recovered in same period in 2025.
He attributed the feat to enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted introspection into suspicious declarations, teamwork and collaboration.
“No enforcement agency can succeed in isolation,” he stressed.
Aliyu congratulated his successor, assuring him of a strong operational foundation, and charged him to “lead with fairness, firmness, courage and sound judgment.”
He thanked officers for loyalty and discipline and prayed for success of the new leadership and the Service.
This press release was signed by the command Public Relations Officer,
Chief Superintendent of Customs, Hussaini Abdullahi for FOU Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos.
