FOU Zone A Records ₦13bn Seizures, ₦3.19bn Revenue Recovery as Afeni Takes Over Leadership
Kathy Kyari
The Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded seizures worth ₦13.07 billion and recovered ₦3.19 billion in revenue between December 2025 and September 2026, as Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni assumed leadership of the unit following the retirement of Comptroller Gambo Aliyu.
The leadership transition took place on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at the unit’s conference hall in Ikeja, Lagos, where Afeni was formally welcomed as the 30th Acting Comptroller of FOU Zone A.
In his inaugural address, Afeni pledged “purposeful, professional and accountable leadership” in advancing the mandate of the Nigeria Customs Service.
He expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and the Service’s management team for the confidence reposed in him, assuring that his administration would prioritise “intelligence-led enforcement”, revenue protection and the safeguarding of Nigeria’s economic and security interests.
The new Acting Comptroller stressed that enforcement activities under his leadership would be “firm, lawful and respectful of human dignity”, while legitimate trade would be facilitated through constructive engagement with traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, customs brokers and other stakeholders.
He also called for stronger collaboration with sister security and law-enforcement agencies to tackle trans-border crimes, particularly the illicit movement of drugs, arms, currencies, counterfeit goods and other prohibited items.
Afeni further pledged to prioritise officers’ welfare, professional development and institutional discipline, while promoting regular sporting activities to strengthen fitness, teamwork and work–life balance.
In his farewell address, Comptroller Aliyu Rtd, reflected on his tenure, expressing gratitude and humility as he formally handed over leadership after what he described through his remarks as a period marked by significant operational responsibilities and challenges.
He disclosed that the unit recorded 779 smuggling interceptions during his tenure, involving various prohibited and improperly imported goods, with a combined duty-paid value of ₦13,075,056,616.
The seizures included more than 20,900 bags of foreign parboiled rice, 61 used vehicles, thousands of used compressors and clothing items, foreign poultry products, 4,418 jerrycans of vegetable oil and 12,606 parcels of cannabis weighing 6,194.3 kilogrammes.
Other intercepted items were 2.30 kilogrammes of cocaine, more than 3,000 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), equivalent to 76,505 litres, and 22 elephant tusks weighing 130.84 kilogrammes.
On revenue recovery, Aliyu reported that the unit generated ₦3,192,511,547.52 between December 10, 2025, and September 24, 2026, representing 798 per cent of its ₦400 million annual target for 2026.
He said the amount also reflected a 776 per cent increase compared with the ₦411,451,901.18 recovered during the corresponding period in 2025.
Aliyu attributed the performance to “enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted introspection into suspicious declarations, teamwork, professionalism and collaboration with sister agencies and stakeholders”.
He emphasised that “no enforcement agency can succeed in isolation”, underscoring the importance of inter-agency cooperation and stakeholder engagement in tackling smuggling and revenue-related offences.
Congratulating his successor, the retired Comptroller expressed confidence in the operational foundation established during his administration and urged Afeni to “lead with fairness, firmness, courage and sound judgment”.
He also commended officers of the unit for their loyalty, discipline and resilience, while expressing gratitude for their support throughout his service.
Aliyu concluded by praying for the success of the new leadership, the continued growth of the Nigeria Customs Service and the security of the country.
The ceremony attracted senior Customs officers, stakeholders, colleagues, friends and well-wishers, including Acting Customs Area Controllers of the Port and Terminal Multipurpose Limited (PTML), Ogun I Area Command, and the Enugu/Ebonyi/Anambra Command.
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