DC Afeni Assumes Office, Pledges Intelligence-Led Enforcement and Trade Facilitation at FOU ‘A’
The newly Acting Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’ of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni, has pledged to pursue an administration based on intelligence-driven enforcement, revenue protection, safeguarding Nigeria’s economic and security interests, and promoting legitimate trade.
Afeni made the commitment while assuming duty at the Unit’s headquarters in Lagos, following the formal handover by his predecessor, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, who retired after a distinguished career in the Nigeria Customs Service.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, Afeni said his administration would adopt a balanced approach that combines effective enforcement with trade facilitation. He stressed that enforcement operations under his leadership would be firm, lawful and conducted with due respect for human dignity.
He further promised to promote legitimate commerce through meaningful engagement with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, licensed customs agents and other relevant stakeholders.
The new Acting Controller also solicited increased collaboration among the Customs Service and other security and law enforcement agencies to effectively combat cross-border crimes, including drug trafficking, arms smuggling, currency trafficking, counterfeiting and the movement of other prohibited goods.
On staff welfare, Afeni pledged to improve welfare packages for officers and men, while prioritising continuous professional development and maintaining high standards of institutional discipline.
He assured stakeholders that his administration would provide purposeful, professional and accountable leadership while working to strengthen the Unit’s contribution to the overall mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Afeni expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, and the NCS Management Team for the confidence placed in him.
Earlier, the outgoing Controller, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, described his tenure as challenging but rewarding. He said his administration concentrated its efforts on tackling smuggling, revenue fraud, concealment, under-declaration and false declaration.
Aliyu, while congratulating Afeni on his new assignment, disclosed that between December 10, 2025, and September 24, 2026, the Unit recorded 779 interceptions of smuggling attempts with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦13,075,056,616.
He added that the Unit recovered ₦3,192,511,547.52 in revenue during the period under review.
According to Aliyu, the recovered revenue represented 798 percent of the Unit’s ₦400 million annual revenue target for 2026 and a 776 percent increase over the ₦411,451,901.18 recovered during the corresponding period in 2025.
He attributed the Unit’s performance to improved risk profiling, enhanced compliance monitoring, targeted examination of suspicious declarations, teamwork and strengthened collaboration with other government agencies.
