With the recent official postings in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Comptroller Godwin Otunla on Thursday April 24, 2025 took over duty from Comptroller Mohammed Shuaibu, as the new Controller at the Ogun 1 Area Command in a handover ceremony at the Command in Idiroko, Ogun State.
In his takeover speech, he pledged to deploy all lawful means to combat smuggling and enforce compliance with extant trade laws and regulations. “Our approach will be firm, fair and intelligence-driven”, he stated.
With plan to swing into action immediately, Otunla said his vision is to consolidate on the gains already recorded and pursue continuous improvement in the areas of efficiency, enforcement, intelligent-led operations, stakeholder collaboration, and community relations.
“This new administration under my watch will not tolerate any form of economic sabotage. We shall deploy all lawful means to combat smuggling and enforce compliance with extant trade laws and regulations,” he said.
Otunla expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and the NCS management team for entrusting him with the leadership role. He also assured stakeholders of his commitment to service guided by professionalism and integrity.
“I do not take this trust for granted, and I assure you all that I will give it my best, guided by the values of professionalism,” he stated, while commending his predecessor for laying a solid foundation, particularly in revenue generation, anti-smuggling efforts, and improved community engagement.
Otunla pointed out that he was awards of the environment of Ogun 1 Command and its complexities, therefore he emphasised the importance of boosting enforcement, intelligence led operations, operational efficiency, and stakeholder engagement.
Earlier in his speech prior to the handing over, Shuaibu recounted activities of his impactful three month tenure, stating that the Command raked in over N43 million in revenue from January to April 2025, while also achieving significant results in anti-smuggling operations.
His words: “What comes to mind first and foremost was revenue we generated during the period. Under my leadership, the Command generated Forty Three Million, Four Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ninety Four Naira (N43,412,794.00) from January to April this year 2025.
“On anti-smuggling activities, for the past three months, we have recorded 161 seizures of different prohibited items. Prominent to be mentioned is seizures of 3,699 Cannabis Sativa of different make and sizes, 150 Sacks of India Hemp, three Single barrel long Guns, four packets of 25 cartridges of 100 pieces of cartridges and 7,000,000,000 CFA”.
Shuaibu thanked officers and men of the Command for their unwavering support urging to equally cooperate and support his successor.
He also thanked the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi for his support.