Customs Area Controller Drives Anti-Smuggling Efforts and Community Peace in Ogun

By Lod Onyeji

Comptroller Godwin Aderounmu Otunla has made significant strides in trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations, and community engagement since assuming duty as the Customs Area Controller of the Ogun 1 Area Command in April 2025. In just six months, Otunla has built on existing successes, steering the Command with renewed energy, professionalism, and integrity.

Reforms and Community Engagement: Otunla has implemented practical reforms, including restructuring duty schedules to enhance efficiency and morale. He has also prioritized officers' welfare, ensuring decent accommodation, access to healthcare, and other incentives. The Command has maintained peaceful relations with border communities, a significant improvement from previous years.

Anti-Smuggling Efforts: The Command has placed a strong emphasis on intelligence-driven operations, intercepting smugglers and safeguarding national interests. Collaborative efforts with other security agencies and the Department of State Services (DSS) have enhanced the Command's effectiveness.

Community Outreach: The Command has intensified outreach programs, distributing relief materials, mosquito nets, and empowerment tools to local communities and hospitals through the Customs Officers' Wives Association (COWA). Otunla has also addressed the issue of "camp boys" extorting motorists, reaffirming that such individuals are not part of the Service.

Challenges and Future Plans: Despite progress, the Command faces infrastructural challenges, including poor electricity supply and limited operational vehicles. Otunla has appealed for more patrol vehicles and acknowledged that commercial activities at Idiroko have not fully recovered since the 2022 border reopening. However, the Command remains committed to restoring legitimate trade and ensuring compliance among traders.

A New Era of Leadership: Otunla's leadership has been described as people-oriented and reform-driven, fostering discipline, boosting morale, and promoting a culture of professionalism across the Command. "Integrity, intelligence, and welfare – that's the tripod on which our success stands," Comptroller Otunla emphasized.