N14.75bn Seizures, N896m Revenue: What Afeni Brings to FOU ‘A’ Ikeja

The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A), Ikeja, Lagos, has entered a new phase of leadership as Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni assumed duty as the unit’s 30th Acting Comptroller, following the retirement of Comptroller Gambo Aliyu.

The change of guard, which took place on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, came as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) continues to place greater emphasis on intelligence-led enforcement, revenue protection, trade facilitation and inter-agency collaboration in safeguarding the nation’s economic and security interests.

Afeni formally took over the strategic enforcement unit at a ceremony held at its conference hall in Ikeja, attended by senior Customs officers, stakeholders, friends, colleagues and well-wishers.

Also present were the 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 and stakeholders.

The new Acting Comptroller pledged to provide what he described as “purposeful, professional and accountable leadership” in the discharge of the unit’s mandate.

Afeni expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the management team of the Service for the confidence reposed in him, promising to build on the achievements of his predecessors.

He said his administration would prioritise “intelligence-led enforcement”, plugging revenue leakages and protecting Nigeria’s economic and security interests.

According to him, enforcement operations under his leadership 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.

The new Acting Comptroller 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.

He equally pledged to give 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 A

The new FOU A chief is arriving from Ogun I Area Command with a record of operational activities that included revenue mobilisation, export facilitation, anti-smuggling enforcement and extensive collaboration with security agencies.
Afeni, while formally handing over the leadership of Ogun I following his redeployment, said the Command had pursued a clear mandate since he assumed office on December 4, 2025: strengthening border security, suppressing smuggling, facilitating legitimate trade and deepening engagement with stakeholders across Ogun State.

According to him, the Command’s strategies, intelligence-led operations and enhanced inter-agency collaboration produced measurable results during the period.

One of the most significant gains was in revenue generation. He disclosed that Ogun I had been given a revenue target of N545.348 million, but generated N896.539 million between January and August 2026.
This represented an excess of N350.714 million over the target.

Afeni attributed the performance to the dedication, transparency and resilience of officers and men of the Command.
The Command also recorded a major increase in export activity.

Ogun I Leaves Behind Revenue, Export Gains

Afeni’s assumption of office coincided with the redeployment of the former Customs Area Controller of Ogun I Command, whose tenure produced significant revenue, export and anti-smuggling figures before his movement to FOU Zone ‘A’.

The outgoing controller, who assumed leadership of Ogun I on December 4, 2025, said his administration had focused on strengthening border security, suppressing smuggling, facilitating legitimate trade and deepening engagement with stakeholders across Ogun State.

According to him, the Command generated N896.54 million between January and August 2026 against a revenue target of N545.35 million.

This represented an excess of N350.71 million over the target, which he attributed to the dedication, transparency and resilience of officers and men of the Command.

The outgoing controller also highlighted a significant expansion in export activities under his watch.

He disclosed that the Command processed 31,177 metric tonnes of exports with a Free on Board (FOB) value of N4.64 billion during the period under review, compared with zero recorded export trade during the corresponding period in 2025.

The development, he said, reflected the Command’s growing emphasis on trade facilitation alongside its enforcement responsibilities.

N14.75bn Duty Paid Value From Seizures

The anti-smuggling operations of Ogun I Command also produced 327 seizures between December 4, 2025 and September 29, 2026, with a combined Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N14.75 billion.

The seizures included 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.

Others were 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.

The Command also intercepted five sets of camouflage clothing, 32 camouflage inner wears, 32 camouflage tops and 197 camouflage trousers.

Seven foreign-used vehicles were also seized, including a 2026 Range Rover P530 Autobiography.

The outgoing controller said the seizures demonstrated the Command’s resolve to protect the nation’s borders against activities capable of undermining national security, legitimate commerce and government revenue.

Security Agencies Deepen Border Collaboration

Beyond seizures and revenue collection, the Command placed considerable emphasis on inter-agency collaboration, particularly because of the sensitive nature of the Ogun border corridors.

The outgoing controller said the Command sustained operational cooperation 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.

He also said the Command maintained regular engagements with traditional rulers, youth leaders and border community associations to strengthen mutual trust and reduce friction during enforcement operations.

According to him, the collaboration resulted in the handing over of intercepted illicit drugs 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).

He said the approach helped the Command address several security challenges within its area of responsibility.

Customs Links Enforcement To Community Development

The outgoing controller said the Command’s activities extended beyond enforcement and revenue generation to community development and environmental initiatives.

In July 2026, the Command sponsored the AFENI Cup inter-school football tournament at Iko Gateway Grammar School as part of efforts to promote discipline, youth engagement, unity and peaceful coexistence.

He said the initiative was also intended to discourage young people from becoming involved in smuggling activities.

The Command also participated in inter-command athletic competitions in August and September, emerging as champion in volleyball.

On environmental sustainability, the Command launched a green-border afforestation initiative tagged “Green Border & Environmental Sustainability”, under which hundreds of trees were planted along critical border corridors to mitigate environmental degradation and promote sustainable ecosystem management.

The outgoing controller also disclosed that two major infrastructure projects within the Command’s area of responsibility had been completed under the broader community development initiatives of the Customs Service.

They include the rehabilitation of Igiri High School, Ijofin, in Ipokia Local Government Area, involving the overhaul of classroom blocks and the principal’s office as well as the construction of 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.

He said the commissioning arrangements for the projects would be made in conjunction with the incoming controller.

Afeni Inherits Strategic Enforcement Responsibility

The transition at FOU Zone ‘A’ comes with heightened expectations as the unit remains one of the critical enforcement arms of the NCS, particularly in intercepting smuggled goods, protecting government revenue and supporting border and national security operations.

For Afeni, the immediate task is to combine robust enforcement with trade facilitation while ensuring that Customs operations remain intelligence-driven, professional and accountable.

The Acting Comptroller said achieving the mandate would require the cooperation of officers, sister security agencies, traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs brokers and other stakeholders.

He therefore urged stakeholders to work with the unit in protecting the economy while ensuring that legitimate trade is not unnecessarily impeded.

The outgoing controller, meanwhile, expressed confidence in Afeni’s capacity to lead the Command, urging officers and stakeholders to extend the incoming leadership the same cooperation given to him.

He said his tenure involved difficult decisions, some of which may have unsettled interests, but maintained that they were taken in pursuit of 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 the NCS management for their support, while commending officers and men of Ogun I Command for their dedication and professionalism.

As the leadership baton changes hands, the new administration at FOU Zone ‘A’ is expected to build on the Service’s broader objectives of strengthening enforcement, protecting revenue, facilitating legitimate trade and securing Nigeria’s borders.

The outgoing controller’s record in Ogun I, spanning revenue collection, export facilitation, seizures, inter-agency cooperation and community engagement, provides a substantial operational backdrop against which the next phase of Customs enforcement will unfold.