Afeni Takes Over at FOU ‘A’ Customs Command, as Aliyu Retires
• Command records seizures worth N13bn in 9months
• My administration will be anchored on 3-pillars of intelligence-led enforcement, blocking all revenue leakages and protecting economic and security interests – Afeni
By Francis Ugwoke
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos, is now headed by Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni, following the retirement of the Controller, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu.
Afeni assumed office on Wednesday when Comptroller Gambo Aliyu handed over to him after a meritorious service.
In a statement from the Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Hussaini Abdullahi, the ceremony was well attended by friends and well-wishers of both Afeni and Aliyu.
Among those who attended the programme were the Acting Customs Area Controllers of PTML Command, Ogun I Area Command and Enugu/Ebonyi/Anambra Area Command, senior officers and critical stakeholders.
In his maiden speech, the new Acting Controller assured of purposeful, professional and accountable leadership, adding that this that will no doubt advance the core mandate of the Service.
He said that he remains grateful to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, PhD and the entire Management team for the confidence reposed in him.
Afeni added that his administration would be anchored on three pillars of intelligence-led enforcement, blocking all revenue leakages and protecting Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
According to him, “We will ensure that enforcement activities are firm, lawful and respectful of human dignity, while legitimate trade will be facilitated through constructive engagement with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, licensed customs agents and other stakeholders.”
The new Controller called for the stronger synergy with sister security and law enforcement agencies in tackling trans-border crimes such as illicit drug trafficking, arms smuggling, currency trafficking, counterfeit goods and other prohibited items.
On welfare, he promised officers and men of improved packages, continuous professional development and institutional discipline.
In his valedictory speech, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, said that his tenure was both challenging and fulfilling, adding that his team focused mainly on smuggling, revenue fraud, concealment, under-declaration and false declaration.
Aliyu who congratulated his predecessor said that the Command between December 10, 2025 and September 24, 2026, the Unit intercepted 779 smuggling attempts with a combined Duty Paid Value of N13,075,056,616.
A breakdown of the seizures include 20,900 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 61 units of used vehicles, thousands of used compressors and second-hand 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 equivalent to 76,505 litres and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg.
He also disclosed that the Unit recovered a whopping N3,192,511,547.52 within the period under review.
The figure, according to him, represents 798 percent of the Unit’s N400 million annual revenue target for 2026 and a 776 percent increase over the N411,451,901.18 recovered in the corresponding period of 2025.
Aliyu attributed his success to enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted examination of suspicious declarations, teamwork and robust inter-agency collaboration.
He said, “No enforcement agency can effectively achieve its mandate in isolation. Inter-agency cooperation remains critical in combating cross-border crimes and revenue leakages”.
• My administration will be anchored on 3-pillars of intelligence-led enforcement, blocking all revenue leakages and protecting economic and security interests – Afeni
By Francis Ugwoke
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, Ikeja-Lagos, is now headed by Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni, following the retirement of the Controller, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu.
Afeni assumed office on Wednesday when Comptroller Gambo Aliyu handed over to him after a meritorious service.
In a statement from the Public Relations Officer of the Unit, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Hussaini Abdullahi, the ceremony was well attended by friends and well-wishers of both Afeni and Aliyu.
Among those who attended the programme were the Acting Customs Area Controllers of PTML Command, Ogun I Area Command and Enugu/Ebonyi/Anambra Area Command, senior officers and critical stakeholders.
In his maiden speech, the new Acting Controller assured of purposeful, professional and accountable leadership, adding that this that will no doubt advance the core mandate of the Service.
He said that he remains grateful to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, PhD and the entire Management team for the confidence reposed in him.
Afeni added that his administration would be anchored on three pillars of intelligence-led enforcement, blocking all revenue leakages and protecting Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
According to him, “We will ensure that enforcement activities are firm, lawful and respectful of human dignity, while legitimate trade will be facilitated through constructive engagement with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, licensed customs agents and other stakeholders.”
The new Controller called for the stronger synergy with sister security and law enforcement agencies in tackling trans-border crimes such as illicit drug trafficking, arms smuggling, currency trafficking, counterfeit goods and other prohibited items.
On welfare, he promised officers and men of improved packages, continuous professional development and institutional discipline.
In his valedictory speech, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, said that his tenure was both challenging and fulfilling, adding that his team focused mainly on smuggling, revenue fraud, concealment, under-declaration and false declaration.
Aliyu who congratulated his predecessor said that the Command between December 10, 2025 and September 24, 2026, the Unit intercepted 779 smuggling attempts with a combined Duty Paid Value of N13,075,056,616.
A breakdown of the seizures include 20,900 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 61 units of used vehicles, thousands of used compressors and second-hand 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 equivalent to 76,505 litres and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84kg.
He also disclosed that the Unit recovered a whopping N3,192,511,547.52 within the period under review.
The figure, according to him, represents 798 percent of the Unit’s N400 million annual revenue target for 2026 and a 776 percent increase over the N411,451,901.18 recovered in the corresponding period of 2025.
Aliyu attributed his success to enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted examination of suspicious declarations, teamwork and robust inter-agency collaboration.
He said, “No enforcement agency can effectively achieve its mandate in isolation. Inter-agency cooperation remains critical in combating cross-border crimes and revenue leakages”.
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