New Customs CAC vows intelligence-led enforcement, revenue recovery
Oladapo Afeni has assumed duty as the 30th acting Customs Area Controller for the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, pledging intelligence-led enforcement and revenue recovery.
Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash
The newly appointed acting Customs Area Controller, Oladapo Afeni, outlined his administration's priorities, focusing on intelligence-driven operations to combat smuggling, block revenue leakages, and safeguard Nigeria's economic and security interests. His predecessor, Gambo Aliyu, highlighted significant achievements during his tenure, including substantial seizures and revenue reco…
Imagine Nigeria's border as a big gate, and the Customs Service is like the gatekeepers making sure only good stuff comes in and out, and that everyone pays their fair share. A new boss, Oladapo Afeni, just took over and promised to use smart detective work to catch people trying to sneak things past the gate or avoid paying taxes. He also wants to work with other police groups to stop bad things like drugs and weapons from crossing. The old boss, Gambo Aliyu, did a great job too, catching lots of illegal goods worth billions of Naira, which is like a huge treasure chest of money for the country.
Analysis
The transition of leadership within the Nigeria Customs Service's Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, marks a pivotal moment for trade enforcement and revenue generation in the region. Oladapo Afeni, taking the helm as the 30th acting Customs Area Controller, has articulated a clear strategic direction centered on intelligence-led enforcement. This approach signifies a move towards more sophisticated and data-driven operations, aiming to identify and dismantle smuggling networks more effectively rather than relying solely on traditional methods. His commitment to blocking revenue leakages directly addresses a persistent challenge for Nigeria, where illicit trade often deprives the government of substantial income. Furthermore, protecting Nigeria's economic and security interests underscores the broader national importance of the Customs Service's role, linking trade enforcement to national stability and development.
Oladapo Afeni's Mandate
Deputy Comptroller Afeni's inaugural address emphasized a commitment to purposeful, professional, and accountable leadership. His administration's core mandate includes facilitating legitimate trade through constructive engagement with various stakeholders, such as traders, manufacturers, importers, exporters, and customs brokers. This dual focus on firm, lawful enforcement and trade facilitation suggests a balanced approach, aiming to create an environment that deters illicit activities while supporting compliant businesses. Afeni also called for enhanced collaboration with sister security and law-enforcement agencies, recognizing that combating trans-border crimes like drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and the movement of counterfeit goods requires a unified effort. This collaborative strategy is crucial for tackling complex criminal enterprises that often operate across multiple jurisdictions and involve various forms of contraband.
Gambo Aliyu's Tenure
The immediate past Comptroller, Gambo Aliyu, provided a comprehensive overview of his administration's achievements, setting a high bar for his successor. His tenure was characterized by a strong focus on combating various forms of trade malpractice, including smuggling, revenue fraud, concealment, under-declaration, and false declarations. Aliyu's report highlighted major operational successes, detailing the interception of 779 smuggling attempts. These efforts resulted in significant seizures of prohibited items, ranging from foreign parboiled rice and used vehicles to cannabis, cocaine, and elephant tusks. The sheer volume and variety of seized goods underscore the persistent challenges faced by customs officials in Nigeria and the scale of illicit trade activities.
N13.07bn Seizures
One of the most striking figures from Aliyu's report was the total duty-paid value of N13.07bn for the seizures made during his administration. This substantial amount reflects the economic impact of the unit's enforcement activities, demonstrating the significant revenue that would have been lost to the government had these goods entered the market undetected. Beyond the seizures, Aliyu also reported a remarkable financial recovery of N3.192bn between December 2025 and September 2026, which represented an astounding 798 percent of the unit's N400m annual target for 2026. This performance also marked a 776 percent increase over the N411m recovered in the same period in 2025. These achievements were attributed to enhanced risk profiling, stricter compliance checks, targeted introspection into suspicious declarations, teamwork, professionalism, and robust collaboration with sister agencies and stakeholders, reinforcing the idea that no enforcement agency can succeed in isolation.
Key points
- Oladapo Afeni has been appointed as the 30th acting Customs Area Controller for the Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Nigeria Customs Service.
- Afeni pledged to implement intelligence-led enforcement, block revenue leakages, and protect Nigeria's economic and security interests.
- He emphasized facilitating legitimate trade through engagement with stakeholders and fostering collaboration with other security agencies.
- Outgoing Comptroller Gambo Aliyu reported significant achievements, including 779 smuggling interceptions with a duty-paid value of N13.07bn.
- Aliyu's administration also recovered N3.192bn, exceeding its annual target by 798 percent, attributing success to enhanced risk profiling and collaboration.
The new Customs Area Controller's commitment to intelligence-led enforcement and inter-agency collaboration could significantly reduce smuggling and revenue leakages, leading to increased government revenue and enhanced national security. Facilitating legitimate trade while cracking down on illicit activities could also foster a more predictable and fair business environment for compliant traders.
Despite the new leadership's vows, entrenched corruption within the system and sophisticated tactics employed by smugglers could pose significant challenges, potentially hindering efforts to block revenue leakages and combat trans-border crimes effectively. Without sustained political will and robust resources, the ambitious goals might be difficult to achieve, leading to continued economic losses and security vulnerabilities.
