Turning Borders into Gateways: Controller Afeni’s Testimonial

BY KESIENNA SHEPHERDS

When Deputy Comptroller Olukayode Afeni assumed duty as Acting Customs Area Controller of Ogun I Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in December 2025, the Idiroko border was synonymous with smuggling and illicit trade. Within 11 days record time, Afeni stunned observers by intercepting contraband with a duty paid value of ₦2.006 billion, the highest ever recorded in such a short period in the command’s history.

Since then, enforcement has only intensified. Between February and March 2026, the command seized prohibited goods valued at ₦1.35 billion, ranging from petroleum products to agricultural contraband. Afeni explained during a press briefing: “These seizures are not just statistics; they are a clear message to economic saboteurs that Ogun I is no longer a safe corridor for illicit trade.”

It is noteworthy that the revenue growth and compliance trajectory of the Command did not escape his midas touch.  Thus, Afeni’s enforcement drive has translated directly into revenue gains. The command generated ₦285,652,469 in revenue during the first quarter of 2026, surpassing the ₦259,265,495 collected in the same period of 2025. This represents a 1,082% growth year-on-year, driven by enhanced baggage assessments and auction sales of seized petroleum products.

Speaking on the development, Afeni said: “Our revenue growth is proof that compliance is being embraced. Traders now understand that Ogun I is a command where rules are enforced firmly but fairly.”

His less than four months has also catapulted significant export revival of the second busiest land border in the South West geo-economic zone. Perhaps the most striking achievement under Afeni’s leadership is the revival of export trade at Idiroko. For the first time in years, the command recorded 95 metric tons of export goods with a Free on Board (FOB) value of ₦305,749,264.05. This marks a dramatic turnaround from 2025, when export activity was virtually nonexistent.

Afeni emphasized: “We are not only shutting the door on smuggling; we are opening legitimate pathways for Nigerian exporters.” Observers and analysts are of the consensus that Ogun I is now a gateway for economic growth; thanks to the leadership vision of the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, PhD; in identifying result oriented gentlemen officers including DC Afeni.

There is no doubt that Adeniyi’s strategic administration has been vindicated by Afeni’s performance. By appointing officers who embody loyalty, competence, and resilience, Adeniyi has demonstrated that the NCS has a ready pool of leaders capable of steering even the most complex and bigger commands.

At Afeni’s recent takeover ceremony, he had pledged: “It is a great honour to assume the leadership of Ogun I. I am fully aware of its strategic importance, and I will strengthen border security while promoting legitimate trade.”

Afeni’s Ogun I Command is now a case study in how strategic leadership can deliver both enforcement and facilitation. His record of discipline, integrity, and professionalism has not only transformed Idiroko but also strengthened Nigeria’s economy.

It is worth repeating that Afeni has redefined border management, proving that with vision and resilience, a command can become both a fortress against smuggling and a gateway for legitimate trade.

Beyond Afeni, perhaps the bigger credit goes to the CGC and his management who not have proven that they possess the requisite searchlight for identifying capable and dependable frontlines men, but for also trusting the right winning team fit for driving its general and specific agenda.

Strong leadership cannot be more constructive, especially as the Adeniyi led management is also confronted with the demand for an early search for leadership succession and openings across major area commands, as the months progresses. On a final note, Adeniyi has proved beyond doubt that the NCS possesses a ready pool of competent officers capable of leading even the most complex commands such as Apapa, Tin Can, PTML, Onne, or MMIA Lagos; as time goes on.

Afeni’s performance is a case study in this doctrine of faith and strategic based actions , showing that with the right leadership, any command can be transformed into a hub of compliance and economic growth.

The Ogun 1 Command new sheriff has not just managed a border the best way borders can get; he has redefined it. And in doing so, he has set a gold standard for enforcement, compliance, and trade growth: one that will resonate across the NCS and the national economy for years to come.