Comptroller Olusola Akingbade’s appointment as the new Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Ogun II Area Command marks a significant transition for a region critical to Nigeria’s trade and border security. Akingbade assumed her role on Friday, September 5, 2025, succeeding Comptroller Bisi Alade, who retired after a notable tenure. Her deployment from the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, where she served as Controller of Budget, reflects the NCS’s confidence in her ability to manage the fiscal and operational demands of a high-stakes command like Ogun II. This strategic move underscores the service’s focus on leveraging experienced leadership to sustain revenue growth and combat smuggling in a key economic corridor.
Akingbade’s background in budget management equips her with a unique perspective on resource optimization, a critical skill for overseeing the Ogun II Command. As Controller of Budget, she was responsible for financial planning, ensuring compliance with fiscal policies, and aligning expenditures with the NCS’s strategic objectives. This experience likely honed her ability to balance revenue generation with operational efficiency, a dual mandate central to the Ogun II Command’s role in facilitating legitimate trade while curbing illicit activities. Her expertise will be tested in a region known for its bustling trade routes and persistent smuggling challenges.
The Ogun II Area Command, headquartered in Abeokuta, oversees customs operations in Ogun State, a major gateway for trade between Nigeria and Benin Republic. The command is responsible for enforcing import and export regulations, collecting duties, and preventing smuggling across porous borders. Under her predecessor, Comptroller Alade, the command achieved significant revenue milestones, including over ₦15 billion in excise duties between January and April 2025 and ₦12.8 billion in the first half of 2024. Akingbade has pledged to build on these accomplishments, emphasizing her commitment to maintaining the command’s high performance.
During the handover ceremony, Akingbade expressed gratitude to Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for entrusting her with this leadership role. She described herself as a “team player” and stressed the importance of collaboration with officers, stakeholders, and sister agencies to achieve the command’s objectives. This approach suggests a leadership style that prioritizes inclusivity and partnership, which could foster stronger relationships with local traders, manufacturers, and law enforcement bodies. Her call for collective effort aligns with the NCS’s broader mission to enhance national economic security through coordinated action.
Akingbade’s vision for the Ogun II Command centers on two key priorities: revenue generation and the facilitation of legitimate trade. The command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR) includes free trade zones and industrial hubs, which are vital to Nigeria’s import and export economy. By focusing on trade facilitation, Akingbade aims to streamline customs processes, reduce bottlenecks, and encourage compliance among traders. Her promise to uphold the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General indicates a commitment to modernizing operations, potentially through technology-driven solutions like those recently advocated by the NCS leadership.
The challenges facing Akingbade are considerable, given Ogun State’s proximity to Benin Republic and its history of smuggling activities. The region’s porous borders make it a hotspot for illicit trade in goods such as rice, vehicles, and petroleum products. Akingbade’s experience in strategic financial oversight could inform innovative approaches to border security, such as deploying resources more effectively to high-risk areas. Her administration may also explore partnerships with other security agencies to strengthen enforcement, building on initiatives her predecessor pursued with the police and traditional rulers.
Akingbade’s leadership comes at a time when the NCS is emphasizing technological advancements to enhance border management. Recent reports indicate the service’s push to integrate tools like surveillance systems and data analytics to combat smuggling and improve revenue collection. Akingbade’s tenure could see the Ogun II Command adopting similar innovations, aligning with the Comptroller-General’s vision of consolidation, collaboration, and innovation. Her ability to implement these tools effectively will depend on securing buy-in from her team and stakeholders, a task her collaborative approach is well-suited to address.
The outgoing Comptroller, Bisi Alade, left a strong legacy, having overseen a 40% revenue increase in 2024 and strengthened stakeholder relationships. His administration’s success was attributed to the diligence of officers and strategic partnerships with traders and factories. Akingbade has acknowledged Alade’s “articulate and goal-oriented” leadership, pledging to sustain the command’s operational tempo. Her commitment to continuity suggests she will prioritize maintaining established systems while introducing incremental improvements to address emerging challenges.
Stakeholder engagement will be a cornerstone of Akingbade’s strategy. During the handover, she called for the “unflinching support” of critical partners, including traders, manufacturers, and other government agencies. This outreach is particularly important in Ogun State, where free trade zones like the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone generate significant customs revenue. By fostering trust and cooperation, Akingbade aims to ensure timely payment of duties and compliance with regulations, which are essential for meeting revenue targets.
Akingbade officially resumed duty on Friday, succeeding Comptroller Bisi Alade (rtd.), who recently retired from active service.
Prior to her new posting, Comptroller Akingbade served as the Controller in charge of Budget at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during a brief handover ceremony at the command’s headquarters in Abeokuta, outgoing Comptroller Alade congratulated his successor and urged officers of the command to extend their full support to her administration.
“I call on all officers to redouble their efforts and give the incoming administration maximum support and cooperation to sustain the performance tempo of the Command. I also urge our critical stakeholders to give their unflinching support to the new Area Controller,” Alade said.
In her remarks, Akingbade expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for entrusting her with the leadership of the Ogun II Command. She pledged to build on her predecessor’s achievements and to uphold the core values and policy directives of the service.
“I appreciate the CGC for this opportunity. I am a team player and will require the cooperation of all stakeholders to succeed. We must work together to move Nigeria forward,” she said.
Akingbade also commended Alade for his leadership and notable accomplishments during his tenure, promising to sustain the command’s operational momentum. She further assured that her administration would prioritize revenue generation and the facilitation of legitimate trade within the Command’s Area of Responsibility (AoR).
Looking ahead, Akingbade’s tenure will likely be judged by her ability to balance enforcement with trade facilitation in a complex economic environment. Her background, leadership style, and stated priorities position her to navigate these demands effectively. As she settles into her role, her focus on teamwork, revenue optimization, and stakeholder collaboration will be key to sustaining the Ogun II Command’s reputation as a high-performing unit within the Nigeria Customs Service.
