INTERVIEW
So Far, So Good at Ogun Area 1 Customs, As Comptroller Otunla Cruises Control Against Smugglers, Economic Saboteurs
Comptroller Godwin Otunla, CAC, Ogun Area 1 Commad, Idiroko, NCS
The Ogun Area One (Idiroko) Command, known over the years as smugglers’ notoriety, and a hot-bed of incessant bloody clashes between Customs and perpetrators of smuggling, a challenge that successive customs leadership of the command had continued to deal with vis a vis various policies of government. However, since the advent of the incumbent Customs Area Controller (CAC), Comptroller Godwin Otunla, much seems to have been done with several measures undertaken to change the narrative as there have been less or zero clashes between Customs enforcement officials against smugglers and economic saboteurs. There have been much relative peace since his about six (6) months advent. Comptroller Otunla in this no hold barred interview conducted by Mr Felix Kumuyi, the Publisher, TransQuest Media, bares it all. Excerpts:
TQ: Good Afternoon the CAC Sir. Please Sir, Can you give us in summary how you feel so far steering the wheel of leadership of Ogun Area 1 command, generally noted as den of smuggling. We understand though that it is a familiar terrain to you, having served here in the past, but as the head now, with less casualties and zero report on bloody clashes, what is the secret of this your rancour free success so far achieved.
OTUNLA: Good afternoon Mr. Kumuyi. Thank you very much for that question like you have said, it is a beautiful day and we thank God for the break of another day. Like I usually start any interview, my name is Godwin Otunla, the Controller of Customs (CAC) Ogun One Area Command, popularly called Idiroko. I assumed office here on the 24th of March 2025. I’m about the 35th Area Controller here, and so far, so good although not without challenges.
In the area of revenue collection, we have improved on our revenue profile the thing is coming up gradually. Our achievements here is not just very easy like that. Like our revenue profile, it went up. We have doubled the revenue figure against what we met on ground when we got on the saddle here.
Then the anti-smuggling activities were not lacking behind at all. We were able to make some spectacular seizures, especially cannabis seizures, which we have continued to successfully hand over to the NDLEA. The recent Cannabis handed over are of various weights, including a suspect and means of conveyance. We handed over everything to NDLEA.
Then also we have, as usual, very big numbers, unprecedented seizures of bags of rice. That one is the usual thing here. Then we have some smuggled vehicles that were intercepted. We were able to do all these things through our robust intelligence network, because the era of chasing smugglers with guns is over.
We believe we can do our job without the shedding of blood. So we have been keeping that up. I normally tell my officers, to avoid shooting when on pursuit of smugglers, better to leave them and trail them to their destination because if they shoot, a stray bullet can go and hit a farmer. And the person you are chasing would have escaped. To avoid a case of losing the smuggler, and at same time creating more problem for the service.
We know their methods. Like the Rice, they will through motorcycle or other means heap, heap, and heap and keep somewhere. It is at those places that we normally trace and cleared up the smuggler items. Even the marijuana, we monitor them through intelligence network, even though we spend a lot of money to sustain this method, but it is safer. We spend huge amount of money on informants. This is why people believe custom has ‘juju’. No, we base our operations on intelligence. Some we get it, some we lose it. But we continue like that in that manner. So this has been our main technique here. And that is why we have relative peace now, unlike before.
TQ: What is the Command’s Relationship with the Host Community?
OTUNLA: As regards our immediate community, we have identified some areas of intervention which needs some CSR. We are planning to sink boreholes here and there, so that we make it known to the community that we are not only chasing rice, but we are also their friends. Because our CGC, the number one Customs Officer of the world, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, is encouraging that, that we should plough back to the community that host us.
So, that’s what we are trying to do. Unlike some of my people in the Lagos area, because Idiroko is very large and wide. If you want to do for this community, like if you want to do for Christians, the Muslims will raise eyebrows. So we are trying to identify something that unites everybody. Something that will cut across tribes, religion, colors, and the one we got, but the amount to execute it is huge.
Our Former ACG Charles Orbi, ACG Zone ‘A’ was the one championing the course before now. He has contacted some other Area Controllers, some of whom are ready to support the project because they know Idiroko Customs is handicapped. Unlike them, we don’t have major stakeholders like the seaports where they can talk to two or three stakeholders to give support to any initiative, to shoulder the responsibility. So some of them are trying to help us out. And we are still going to do it. So generally, it’s been peaceful. We are doing our work.
TQ: Sir, Can you tell us some of the Challenges you are faced with here.
OTUNLA: The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR is looking into some of our challenges. On the shortage of patrol vehicles, the management recently gave us some new vehicles to enhance our anti-smuggling activities, but we still need more, especially considering the large landmass at Idiroko.
We still need more. Because a patrol team without vehicle is handicapped already. And if the smugglers know you don’t have patrol vehicles, they will rubbish you. So we are still talking with the headquarters and they are promising us that more is on our way. We just received one set last week, and hopefully they are still bringing more for us. So far so good
Some Cannabis Sativa Seizures at Idiroko
TQ: Still talking about challenges, beyond vehicle, what about gadgets for field Officials?
OTUNLA: We have gadgets. We have a walkie talkie. However, we just made a requisition to the headquarters and they are promising us. But we have enough arms and ammunition. Some of our bullet-proof jackets, some of them have expired, and we have written the headquarters in this regard. And the Controller Enforcement is assisting us over there through the O/C Armament headquarters. So they are promising us that as soon as they have supply, they will make the requests available to us at the border area.
TQ: I’m just wondering how you are coping here with the large landmass and porous nature of the border, that even if the whole officers in zone A stretched their hands it can’t guard the Idiroko border. How are you then coping, especially which some of these gadgets in short supply?
OTUNLA: You can’t totally eradicate smuggling, you can only reduce it to the barest minimum all over the world. And even if customs officers in the whole of Nigeria held our hands around the border, smugglers will still pass under our armpits that is smugglers for you. Some of them don’t have any other job, some believe it is their birthright. So they will keep finding the ways to go about it.
TQ: So what’s your relationship like with your counterpart in Benin Republic at the border?
OTUNLA: Very cordial. This is one of their letters (pointing at his table), because we want to make sure that the border is busy. This place is not as busy as Seme concerning imports. Talking about imports. So we are making efforts to make sure that this place is lively too. That is Igholo – Sango corridor. That will be lively.
They are complaining about our roads. I told them the road is very patient. It is only we that are using the road that are not patient. They say they are trucks and they do fall. I said no. We only caution our drivers. The road is patient, but we that are using it we are not patient. So we have been encouraging them to come and they are promising to come. The CGC has gone there to solicit for patronage on our behalf.
(TQ cuts in… But the border is fully open?)
OTUNLA: Yes, it’s fully opened. You know, in Ogun State now, this (Idiroko) is the only one that is open. Imeko and Ohumbe are not opened. Just like in Lagos State where Seme is opened but Owode is not opened.
So this is the only one that is opened for legitimate business in Ogun State, and all the legitimate trade are made to pass through here. It was the border closure that affected the traders. They are yet to come to terms on the reopening of the border that’s why it seems there are low activities. They are yet to come to the reality.
It was border closure. It affected everywhere but you know Seme is just one way and the krake road is very straight and okay to Lagos. Unlike here where you will first get to Sango before heading to Lagos and that is why we have some challenges.
TQ: On the last press briefing?
In the last press briefing imagine we had equivalent of seven truckload of rice seizure intercepted in one month, and you know a truck a truck of rice is equivalents to about six hundred bags of rice
We also had Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) seizures. Because of their nature we dispose them immediately through auctions to targeted artisan associations of Barbers, mechanics, traders etc
TQ: Is there any kind of physical construction or rehabilitation ongoing at the command?
OTUNLA: You mean buildings? That one is beyond us. The barracks? Yes, it’s headquarters. The headquarters is getting some projects approved. They have approved some projects for us this year. And they are doing it. They are putting solar lights everywhere for us. Then they have made some repairs on our blown off roofs in the barracks. There are works going on at our Outstations too, and works are going on here and there, especially renovation.
TQ: Thank you sir, the CAC for your time
OTUNLA: So far so good. It’s a pleasure.
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