Anti-Smuggling Czar Afeni Kickstarts FOU ‘A’ Activities With Stakeholder Engagement, Pangolin Seizure
Anti-Smuggling Czar Afeni Kickstarts FOU ‘A’ Activities With Stakeholder Engagement, Pangolin Seizure
Acting Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni, newly appointed Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, has hit the ground running with a blend of stakeholder engagement and decisive enforcement.
On Friday, October 2, 2026, Afeni met maritime stakeholders at the Unit’s Conference Hall in Ikeja, Lagos, calling for transparency, and voluntary compliance. He urged accurate declarations to reduce clearance delays and disputes, warning that trade infractions would no longer be tolerated.
Known for his mix of “ruthlessness with smugglers and milk of human kindness,” Afeni assured stakeholders that genuine operational concerns would be addressed, while unscrupulous actors would face the full weight of the law. The engagement was warmly received, with stakeholders pledging stronger cooperation to promote seamless trade.
Afeni who was given the title of “Balogun of Cross Border Cooperation and Soludero of Idiroko” for his love constructive engagement when he held sway as Ogun 1 Area Controller, also inspected the Unit’s newly commissioned office complex and ongoing projects in Iperu, Ogun State, on October 7, underscoring his commitment to operational efficiency.
His uncompromising oversight soon yielded results. On October 12, 2026, operatives intercepted three live pangolins concealed in a wire mesh cage along Oyo Dam at Igbo-Ora, Ogun State. Acting on credible intelligence, officers recovered the endangered animals after traffickers abandoned the consignment and fled.
In a statement, Afeni hailed the operation as a milestone in the Service’s fight against wildlife trafficking and transnational crime. Represented by Deputy Comptroller Oluwaseun Oguntuase, he commended officers for their vigilance and reaffirmed Customs’ resolve to protect Nigeria’s biodiversity.
He stressed that pangolins are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), warning that offenders face arrest, prosecution, and severe penalties under Nigerian law. The rescued pangolins have since been handed over to the Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative Centre for rehabilitation.
Afeni reiterated the Service’s commitment under Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to secure Nigeria’s borders, safeguard endangered species, and intensify intelligence-driven operations against smuggling.
