FOU Customs Boss, Comptroller Gambo Reads Riot Act to Smugglers, Unveils Reform-Driven Agenda

The newly appointed Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Comptroller Aliyu Gambo, has unveiled a reform-driven leadership agenda anchored on a three-point framework of Change Management, Compliance Management, and Reputational Management.

In a recent interview with journalists, Gambo said his priority is to institutionalise accountability through a motivated workforce, transparency, and professionalism, while pursuing operational excellence in line with the mission, vision, and leadership philosophy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose administration emphasises meritocracy and competence-based human resource management within the Nigeria Customs Service.

According to him, Change Management under his leadership will focus on attitudinal reorientation rather than mere policy declarations, extending to Customs officers, the trading public, and border communities.

He stressed that sustainable reform begins with mindset change, noting that officers must internalise professionalism, discipline, and service values, while stakeholders must appreciate that Customs operations are guided strictly by national interest and the rule of law.
He explained that Customs operates within a complex, post-globalisation trade environment that demands adaptability, intelligence-led enforcement, and constructive stakeholder engagement, adding that change must be both internal and external, reshaping behaviour while strengthening institutional culture.

On Compliance Management, Gambo emphasised strict adherence to procedures and ethical standards, balanced with an understanding of Nigeria’s trade realities.

He made it clear that compliance would not be optional, but enforcement would be firm, fair, and intelligence-driven. FOU Zone A, he said, will adopt a “carrot and stick” approach that rewards compliance while decisively sanctioning infractions, in line with the CGC’s broader reform agenda centred on merit, competence, and fairness.

Issuing a stern warning, the Controller cautioned smugglers operating across land borders and Nigeria’s waterways to desist from illegal activities, stressing that “there will be no safe routes and no hiding places.”

He stated that surveillance, patrols, and intelligence-led operations would be intensified to ensure that smugglers are apprehended and prosecuted, adding that “anyone involved in smuggling, regardless of scale or route, will be made to face the full weight of the law.”

Gambo also warned importers and clearing agents who believe they can short-change the government through under-payment, under-declaration, false declaration, or trade misinvoicing that such practices will be uncovered.

According to him, “importers who think they can evade their obligations through under-declaration or under-payment should rethink, because Customs will detect these practices and recover every kobo due to the government.”

He explained that Customs is strengthening risk assessment systems, post-clearance audits, and intelligence collaboration to track consignments from origin to destination, noting that “distance or foreign shipping points will not shield non-compliance.”

While reaffirming Customs’ commitment to facilitating legitimate trade, Gambo stressed that compliance remains non-negotiable, stating that “those who play by the rules have nothing to fear, but compliance is not optional.”

On Reputational Management, the Controller said accountability and transparency are central to public trust, noting that the ethical tone set by the CGC has significantly improved public perception of the Service.

He assured that FOU Zone A would sustain and deepen these gains, emphasising that “Customs has a social contract with Nigerians and must deliver value without losing sight of its mandate in the trade value chain.”

Beyond revenue and trade facilitation, Gambo highlighted the security dimension of Customs operations, warning of the nexus between smuggling, illicit drugs, arms proliferation, and rising criminality. He observed that challenges such as banditry, terrorism, and kidnapping make effective border control a national security imperative critical to protecting lives, the economy, and national stability.

Gambo assumes office at a critical time, following an impressive performance by the outgoing leadership of FOU Zone A, which recorded 761 seizures valued at over ₦10 billion, including rice, vehicles, drugs, and weapons, alongside 38 arrests and the recovery of over ₦419 million in underpaid duties. His appointment is further reinforced by a well-established reputation for integrity, most notably marked by his decision to reject a $50,000 bribe, an act that has become part of his professional narrative.
As he consolidates on these achievements, Gambo has pledged to intensify intelligence-driven operations, strengthen stakeholder collaboration, and promote welfare and professionalism within the ranks ensuring that FOU Zone A not only sustains its anti-smuggling successes but also advances the broader objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service in economic protection, trade facilitation, and national security.