Since assuming duty as the Customs Area Controller of the Ogun 1 Area Command, Idiroko, Ogun State, on April 24, 2025, Comptroller Godwin Aderounmu Otunla has continued to record significant strides in trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations, officers’ welfare, and stakeholder engagement.
In just six months, Otunla has built upon existing successes of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in the region, steering the Command with renewed energy, professionalism, and integrity. His leadership, marked by practical reforms and people-oriented administration, has further strengthened the fight against smuggling across the volatile Idiroko border corridor.
Upon resumption, one of Comptroller Otunla’s immediate priorities was to enhance efficiency by restructuring duty schedules. He reduced the guard duty rotation from one month to two weeks, allowing officers more rest and better performance. “This approach,” he noted, “enhances efficiency and morale, ensuring officers stay alert and effective.”
The Command headquarters and barracks have also witnessed significant improvements, including installation of solar-powered lighting systems and environmental upgrades. Otunla emphasized that officers’ welfare remains central to his administration’s success. Regular management meetings are held to address welfare concerns, ensure transparency, and maintain an open-door policy for all officers.
“I operate an open-door policy,” he said. “Every officer, regardless of rank, can bring issues directly to me. We also ensure decent accommodation, access to healthcare, and other incentives that boost morale and encourage professionalism.”
Comptroller Otunla has placed strong emphasis on intelligence-driven operations. He explained that the Command invests heavily in actionable intelligence to intercept smugglers and safeguard national interests. “We make use of intelligence and information to achieve results,” he said, adding that collaborative efforts with other security agencies and the Department of State Services (DSS) have enhanced the Command’s effectiveness.
While acknowledging challenges with non-functional scanning machines, the CAC said the Command effectively uses ICT systems for internal communication and coordination with the headquarters through digital platforms and surveillance technology.
Under Otunla’s leadership, Ogun 1 Command has maintained peaceful relations with border communities, a significant improvement in an area previously marked by frequent clashes between smugglers and security personnel.
Since his assumption of duty, there have been no reported cases of violent confrontation between customs officers and smugglers, a record Otunla attributes to proactive engagement with royal fathers, community leaders, and youth groups.
“We have worked closely with traditional rulers to sensitize the youths on the dangers of smuggling,” he said. “When there are legitimate activities around the border, people are less likely to engage in illegal trade.”
In alignment with the Nigeria Customs Service’s “Customs Cares” Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Command has also intensified outreach programmes. Through the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), relief materials, mosquito nets, and empowerment tools have been distributed to local communities and hospitals.
“The Command has identified several areas needing intervention,” Otunla said. “Though we lack big stakeholders like Lagos, we are doing our best to make a difference through COWA’s ongoing empowerment programmes.”
Addressing the recurring issue of “camp boys” locally referred to as kelebe who are often accused of extorting motorists under the guise of working with Customs, Comptroller Otunla reaffirmed that such individuals are not part of the Service.
He said a task force has been set up to arrest and discipline any officer found using such unauthorized individuals. “Camp boys are not part of our system. We have warned our officers repeatedly, and there are strict sanctions for violators,” he stressed.
Despite progress, the Command continues to grapple with infrastructural challenges, including poor electricity supply and limited operational vehicles. Otunla disclosed that the Command runs largely on solar and generator power, as the national grid supply remains unreliable in the border communities.
He also appealed for more patrol vehicles from headquarters, noting that Ogun 1 is a large anti-smuggling zone that requires constant mobility. “Our patrol teams need functional vehicles to cover the vast terrain effectively,” he noted.
Comptroller Otunla acknowledged that commercial activities at Idiroko have not fully recovered since the 2022 border reopening, following years of closure. However, the Command remains committed to restoring legitimate trade and ensuring compliance among traders.
“Trade is gradually picking up,” he said. “We are optimistic that with time, full activities will return, especially if other nearby borders like Imeko and Ohunbe are reopened.”
Reflecting on his tenure so far, Otunla described his experience as fulfilling and impactful. “I have no regrets coming to Ogun 1 Command. Every day brings a new challenge, and I see it as an opportunity to serve better,” he stated.
His 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.
