Comptroller Gambo Iyere Aliyu who assumed duty as Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, Ikeja, Lagos, on December 10, 2025 is embossing indelible marks on the sand of time with aggressive anti smuggling and unrelenting trade facilitation efforts
Covering the five South West States of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, in roughly four months, his leadership has been defined by an intelligence-led anti-smuggling strategy emphasizing change management, compliance, reputational management, inter-agency collaboration, and technology deployment.
Major Seizures and Enforcement Gains
Cumulative seizures: Over ₦6 billion in Duty Paid Value (DPV) of intercepted contraband and underpayments from December 10, 2025, to end-Q1 2026 ,described as “in excess of six billion Naira, probably more”. This reflects intensified operations disrupting illicit trade flows while protecting government revenue and the maritime/border economy.
JournalNG reported early breakthrough in his anti smuggling exploits between his first 6 to 8 weeks, by early February 2026, he made 144 smuggling interceptions with DPV of ₦3.32 billion (exactly ₦3,319,893,255).
Key items in the seizures included 6,954 bags of foreign parboiled rice (12 trailer loads),
77 bags of foreign sugar, 21 used vehicles
3,362 jerrycans of foreign vegetable oil
20,700 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)
915 bales of used clothing; 581 used refrigerator compressors classified as hazardous Ozone Depleting Substances;
One 20-foot container of stone-coated aluminium roofing sheets; 3,029 parcels of synthetic cannabis indica (“Ghanaian Loud”), weighing 1,431 kg;Four live pangolins (wildlife)
Eight suspects arrested, including in drug-related cases.
These operations prioritized narcotics trafficking (especially Cannabis Indica along the South-West corridor), food security items rice and vegetable oil as regards Federal Government import controls, environmental protection, and other prohibited goods.
JournalNG findings confirm that Aliyu’s Seizures aligned with zero-tolerance directives from the Comptroller-General of Customs.
Strategic and Operational Reforms
Intelligence-driven overhaul: Aliyu is leading a shift from routine checkpoints to targeted, data-led patrols with strengthened internal supervision and performance indicators. Comptroller Aliyu stated: “We understood from the very beginning that we could not achieve different results employing the old ways.”
Technology and capacity building: On his watch, FOU Zone A has deployed round-the-clock patrols and situational awareness training; planning for GPS-enabled UAVs with geospatial technology, and satellite imaging to outpace smugglers.
The zero complaints on legitimate trade are fallouts of maintained seamless trade facilitation alongside enforcement through in-house human capital reforms and strict internal compliance.
Stakeholder and community engagement: Grassroots outreach to border communities and port users for intelligence sharing and policy dissemination.
Comptroller Aliyu has strengthened Inter-Agency Collaboration and Leadership Resilience with partnerships involving NDLEA, NAFDAC, Nigeria Police, and traditional rulers for coordinated anti-drug and anti-smuggling efforts.
Response to officer’s death: Following the February 3, 2026, killing of Assistant Superintendent of Customs Mustapha Akiyode in an ambush in Ogun State, Comptroller Aliyu led a condolence visit to the family, pledged justice, and reinforced “fire-for-fire” resolve against smugglers while boosting officer welfare and morale and safety
New infrastructure: Oversaw the commissioning of a purpose-built FOU Zone A headquarters in Ogun State — the first fit-for-purpose facility of its kind in NCS history — described as a “new lease of life” and major morale booster for operations.
Comptroller Aliyu has consistently credited successes to the Comptroller-General’s directives, a motivated workforce, and inter-agency synergy, while vowing no hiding place for smugglers.
His tenure builds on a personal reputation for integrity notably rejecting a $50,000 bribe in a prior posting and aligning with NCS modernization goals.
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