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The leadership change at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, signals a new phase in the Service’s battle against smuggling, revenue leakages and cross-border crimes.
As Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni assumes the helm of the strategic enforcement unit, his record at the Ogun I Area Command provides a strong operational backdrop for the new assignment.
Afeni formally assumed duty as the unit’s 30th Acting Comptroller on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, following the retirement of Comptroller Gambo Aliyu.
The change of guard took place at the unit’s conference hall in Ikeja, with senior Customs officers, stakeholders, colleagues and well-wishers in attendance. Also present were Acting Customs Area Controllers of the Port and Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML), Ogun I Area Command and the Enugu/Ebonyi/Anambra Command, among other senior officers.
Taking charge at a unit with a broad enforcement mandate, Afeni pledged what he described as “purposeful, professional and accountable leadership”, promising to build on the achievements of his predecessors.
He said his administration would prioritise intelligence-led enforcement, revenue protection and the safeguarding of Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
Afeni said enforcement operations would remain “firm, lawful and respectful of human dignity”, while legitimate businesses would be supported through constructive engagement with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs brokers and other stakeholders.
He also called for stronger collaboration among security and law-enforcement agencies to tackle trans-border crimes, particularly the movement of illicit drugs, arms, currencies, counterfeit goods and other prohibited items.
The new Acting Comptroller further pledged attention to officers’ welfare, professional development, discipline and sporting activities, which he said would promote physical fitness, teamwork and work-life balance.
From Ogun I To FOU Zone ‘A’
Afeni’s redeployment comes on the heels of an eventful tenure at Ogun I Area Command, where he combined revenue mobilisation with anti-smuggling enforcement, export facilitation and extensive inter-agency collaboration.
Since assuming office on December 4, 2025, the Command, under his leadership, pursued a mandate centred on strengthening border security, suppressing smuggling, facilitating legitimate trade and deepening engagement with stakeholders across Ogun State.
The results were reflected in the Command’s revenue performance.
Against a revenue target of N545.35 million, Ogun I generated N896.54 million between January and August 2026, representing an excess of N350.71 million.
Afeni attributed the performance to the dedication, transparency and resilience of officers and men of the Command; but revenue was only one part of the story.
The Command also recorded a significant expansion in export activity, processing 31,177 metric tonnes of exports with a Free on Board (FOB) value of N4.64 billion during the period under review.
The figure represented a sharp departure from the corresponding period in 2025, when the Command recorded no export trade.
The development underscored the Command’s attempt to balance its enforcement responsibilities with the NCS mandate of facilitating legitimate trade and supporting Nigeria’s export ambitions.
The anti-smuggling side of the operation was equally substantial.
Between December 4, 2025 and September 29, 2026, Ogun I recorded 327 seizures with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N14.75 billion.
Among the seizures were 32,449 parcels of cannabis, Colorado and Ghana Loud; 50 sacks of raw Cannabis sativa; 19,525 litres of Premium Motor Spirit; 8,787 cartons of spaghetti and 11,578 bags of foreign parboiled rice, equivalent to 12 truckloads.
The Command also intercepted 6,453 kegs of vegetable oil, six live pangolins, 2,128 live cartridges, 1,315 Riodin explosives, two revolver pistols, 11 Dane guns and two locally made pistols.
Other seizures included five sets of camouflage clothing, 32 camouflage inner wears, 32 camouflage tops and 197 camouflage trousers.
Seven foreign-used vehicles were also intercepted, including a 2026 Range Rover P530 Autobiography.
For the Customs Service, the figures underline the security and economic implications of the Ogun border corridors, where illicit trade intersects with legitimate commerce and national security concerns.
Enforcement, Collaboration and Community Impact
Afeni’s Ogun I tenure also placed significant emphasis on inter-agency cooperation.
The Command sustained operational collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and environmental management agencies.
Engagements were also maintained with traditional rulers, youth leaders and border community associations in an effort to strengthen trust and reduce friction during enforcement operations.
According to the outgoing controller, intercepted illicit drugs were handed over to the NDLEA Idiroko Special Command, while arms and ammunition were transferred to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).
The approach, he said, helped the Command respond to security challenges within its area of responsibility while ensuring that seized items were handled by the appropriate agencies.
The Command’s activities also extended beyond seizures and revenue collection.
In July 2026, it sponsored the AFENI Cup inter-school football tournament at Iko Gateway Grammar School as part of efforts to promote youth engagement, discipline, unity and peaceful coexistence.
The initiative was also designed to discourage young people from becoming involved in smuggling.
The Command participated in inter-command athletic competitions in August and September, emerging champion in volleyball.
It also launched a green-border afforestation initiative tagged “Green Border & Environmental Sustainability”, through which hundreds of trees were planted along critical border corridors to address environmental degradation and promote sustainable ecosystem management.
Two infrastructure projects were also completed within the Command’s area of responsibility.
They included the rehabilitation of Igiri High School, Ijofin, in Ipokia Local Government Area, covering classroom blocks, the principal’s office and sanitary facilities.
A newly constructed jetty at Ijofin was also completed to improve riverine transportation, enhance safety for commuters and fishermen, and support local trade.
The projects are expected to be commissioned in conjunction with the incoming leadership.
A Bigger Enforcement Mandate
The transition at FOU Zone ‘A’ places Afeni at the head of one of the NCS’s most visible enforcement arms, with responsibility for intercepting smuggled goods, protecting government revenue and supporting national security operations.
His immediate challenge will be to translate the operational experience gained at Ogun I into a wider enforcement environment while maintaining the delicate balance between robust border control and trade facilitation.
At the handover ceremony, Afeni acknowledged the confidence reposed in him by Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the management of the Service.
He promised to build on the achievements of his predecessors and called for cooperation from officers, sister security agencies, traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs brokers and other stakeholders.
The outgoing controller also expressed confidence in Afeni’s capacity to lead, urging officers and stakeholders to extend the incoming leadership the cooperation given to him.
Reflecting on his tenure, he acknowledged that some of the decisions taken during his time in Ogun I may have unsettled certain interests, but maintained that they were driven by the targets set by the Comptroller-General.
“Whether I have finished the race successfully or not is not for me to say – I will leave it to posterity and you all to be the judge,” he said.
He thanked the Comptroller-General and NCS management for their support and commended officers and men of Ogun I for their dedication and professionalism.
For Afeni, the move from Ogun I to FOU Zone ‘A’ represents a significant expansion of operational responsibility.
His record of revenue growth, export facilitation, seizures, inter-agency cooperation and community engagement now provides the foundation for his new assignment.
At FOU Zone ‘A’, the expectation will be clear: stronger intelligence, tighter enforcement, protected revenue and a Customs operation capable of securing Nigeria’s borders without unnecessarily obstructing legitimate trade.
