Customs Elevates 74 Officers in Oyo/Osun Command to Bolster Anti-Smuggling, Revenue Drive
By Ayo Adewimi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has decorated 74 newly promoted officers in the Oyo/Osun Area Command as part of efforts to intensify its anti-smuggling operations, strengthen border security, and boost revenue generation.
The officers, promoted across various cadres, were decorated yesterday at the command headquarters in Ibadan.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Gambo Iyere Aliyu, said the exercise was both a reward for hard work and a call to greater responsibility. He stressed that the new ranks would strengthen the command’s operational capacity at a time when the nation is redoubling efforts to block revenue leakages and facilitate trade.
“These promotions are not just ceremonial; they are strategic,” Aliyu said. “They equip this command with a stronger, more accountable workforce to carry out the Service’s core mandate of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and the suppression of smuggling. You must justify your new ranks by showing increased discipline, commitment, and professionalism.”
Aliyu highlighted the Oyo/Osun Command’s strategic importance, citing its proximity to major interstate routes and border networks. He urged officers to embrace continuous capacity building in order to outpace smuggling syndicates and adapt to evolving challenges in customs administration.
According to him, the command’s operations directly contribute to Nigeria’s non-oil revenue targets and play a critical role in sustaining economic stability.
The Public Relations Officer of the command, ASC I Abdulmalik Abiodun Akintola, told journalists that the promotions reflect the Service’s commitment to merit, institutional reforms, and career progression.
“This exercise is a reflection of merit, hard work, and the Service’s commitment to career growth. It also sends a clear message that the NCS is strengthening its capacity to meet national expectations,” Akintola said.
The ceremony was attended by senior officers, family, and friends of the newly decorated officers, who described the milestone as a major boost to their careers.
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