The Acting Customs Area Controller of the Oyo/Osun Area Command, DC Wale Moses Adewole, has stepped up stakeholder engagement efforts with a strategic familiarisation tour of key traditional institutions across Oyo State, aimed at strengthening collaboration in the fight against smuggling and promotion of lawful trade.
During visits to the palaces of the Onigbeti of Igbeti, the Iba of Kishi, and the Okere of Saki on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, Adewole underscored the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to working closely with local communities through their traditional rulers.
At Igbeti, the Onigbeti, Oba Engr. Bashir Olalekan, welcomed the delegation and commended the vital role of the Nigeria Customs Service in revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border protection. He pledged continued community support, particularly in raising awareness about the dangers and economic impact of smuggling.
Responding, Adewole appreciated the warm reception and lauded the community’s cooperation, stressing the need for sustained partnership to curb illegal trade, discourage youth involvement in smuggling, and tackle social vices such as drug abuse.
In Kishi, the Acting Controller praised the community’s strides in local rice production and cautioned against the smuggling of foreign parboiled rice, highlighting the presence of a functional rice mill in the area. He also acknowledged the support given to Customs patrol teams.
The Iba of Kishi, Oba Dr. Masoud Lawal Oyekola Aweda, expressed gratitude for the visit and reaffirmed the community’s commitment to lawful trade and economic development.
At Saki, Adewole, alongside other security agencies, was received by the Okere of Saki, Oba Dr. (Surv) Khalid Oyeniyi Olabisi Ayinla, who emphasised the role of traditional institutions in maintaining peace and order. While appreciating Customs’ engagement, the monarch called for the establishment of a Customs presence in the axis to further enhance trade facilitation.
The engagement highlights the Command’s renewed focus on grassroots collaboration as a critical strategy for improving compliance, boosting legitimate trade, and strengthening border security within the region.