FOU Zone A seizures hit N10.1bn as Customs records major interceptions and arrests during a leadership transition in Lagos

Outgoing Comptroller of the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone A, Muhammed Shuaibu, announced on Wednesday in Ikeja that the unit had recorded FOU Zone A seizures worth N10.1bn and arrested thirty-eight suspects during his seven-month tenure.

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Shuaibu, who has been promoted to Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, said the figures emerged from 476 interceptions involving 761 seized items between April and November 2025.

He described the period as one of the most productive for the unit, noting that officers had intensified operations across strategic corridors.

He detailed major items recovered, including twenty-three thousand bags of foreign parboiled rice, ninety-eight used vehicles, more than two tonnes of cannabis sativa and over eighteen hundred jerry cans of premium motor spirit.

He added that officers also seized fifteen assorted rifles, 4,841 rounds of ammunition, two industrial drones and four Russian-made explosive cylinders, each weighing fifty kilograms.

Shuaibu said the unit secured the final forfeiture of thirty thousand dollars and 110 CFA, amounting to N31m, to the Federal Government.

Eight containers of expired pharmaceutical products valued at N7.5bn were also handed over to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.

He noted that N419m was recovered through demand notices issued for questionable declarations and undervaluations, describing the unit’s compliance drive as a powerful step toward strengthening border integrity.

He attributed the achievements to the commitment of officers and cooperation from stakeholders, urging them to support his successor, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu.

In his acceptance speech, Aliyu pledged to intensify intelligence-driven operations and prioritise professional conduct, discipline and officer welfare.

The new Comptroller said the command would deepen engagement with sister agencies, community leaders and the trading public to enhance lawful trade and improve border security.

Aliyu stressed that his administration would be guided by management change, compliance management and reputation management.

He promised an open-door policy and asked officers to uphold the service’s values as they work to suppress smuggling and enforce national economic regulations.

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Before his deployment to Zone A, Aliyu served as Area Controller of the Oyo and Osun Area Command, where his tenure was marked by improved inter-agency collaboration and strengthened border surveillance.