Nigeria Customs Service sees leadership change and receives international PR award

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has undergone a leadership change at the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, with Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni appointed as the 30th Acting Comptroller. Afeni succeeds the retired Comptroller Gambo Aliyu. In his inaugural address, Afeni committed to intelligence-led enforcement, blocking revenue leakages, and protecting national economic and security interests while facilitating legitimate trade through stakeholder engagement.

Separately, the Nigeria Customs Service received international recognition at the 2026 International Public Relations Association Golden World Awards in Athens, Greece. Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi was presented with an Award of Excellence for the service’s strategic communication and stakeholder engagement efforts. The award highlights the NCS’s approach to transparency and its ongoing reforms aimed at modernizing operations and improving trade facilitation. Adeniyi noted that the recognition encourages the further adoption of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in public communication.