MAIDEN PRESS BRIEFING BY THE ACTING CUSTOMS AREA CONTROLLER, OYO/OSUN AREA COMMAND

The Acting Customs Area Controller of the Oyo/Osun Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Wale Moses Adewole, on Tuesday addressed members of the press at his maiden press briefing for the year 2026, outlining the Command’s operational achievements in enforcement and revenue generation.

Welcoming journalists, the Acting Controller expressed appreciation for their continued partnership and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to the statutory mandates of the Nigeria Customs Service, which include revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, and protection of the national economy.

He disclosed that within one month of his assumption of office, the Command recorded significant enforcement successes, resulting in seizures with a cumulative Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦2,701,762,558.00.

The seized items include:

• 2,234 bags of foreign parboiled rice (50kg each)
• 1,112 pieces of used tyres
• 562 kegs of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)
• 124 bales of used clothes
• Cannabis sativa (Indian hemp)
• Codeine syrup and tramadol
• Used shoes, foreign spaghetti, used compressors, and pharmaceutical products
• Five (5) smuggled vehicles, including Toyota Camry, Hyundai Sonata, Hyundai Jeep, Chevrolet EQ, and Mercedes GLE
• Means of conveyance, comprising one Volvo truck, one Volkswagen bus, and three J5 vehicles

According to him, all seizures were made at various flashpoints across the Command’s Area of Responsibility through credible intelligence, sustained patrols, and strategic enforcement operations.

On revenue performance, Deputy Comptroller Adewole announced that the Command generated ₦8,374,471,941.10 in December 2025 alone. He further revealed that the Oyo/Osun Area Command surpassed its 2025 annual revenue target, recording a total collection of ₦86,297,581,081.00, which represents a revenue surplus of ₦13,135,424,793.29 and a 15.22% increase above the annual target.

He attributed this achievement to improved compliance, effective monitoring, and the dedication of officers to lawful trade facilitation.

The Acting Controller reiterated the Command’s zero-tolerance stance against smuggling and economic sabotage, warning smugglers and unpatriotic elements to desist from illegal activities, as the Command would not relent in enforcing the law. He emphasized continued collaboration with sister security agencies and stakeholders to safeguard national economic security.

Deputy Comptroller Adewole also expressed gratitude to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Engr. Seyi Abiodun Makinde, for his unwavering support, as well as stakeholders and the media for their cooperation and responsible dissemination of information.

He concluded by thanking the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, for his leadership and support.

“The Oyo/Osun Area Command remains resolute in fulfilling its mandate and protecting the economic interests of the nation,” he stated.

WM ADEWOLE
Deputy Comptroller of Customs
Acting Customs Area Controller
Oyo/Osun Area Command