Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — Traditional rulers in Ipokia Kingdom, Ogun State, have pledged their full support to the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, following a strategic courtesy visit by the Acting Customs Area Controller of Ogun I Command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, to the palace of the Onipokia of Ipokia.
In a press release issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Chado Zakari, DC Afeni led the visit to His Royal Majesty, Dr Yisa Olaniyan, the Onipokia of Ipokia Kingdom.
He said the engagement was aimed at strengthening collaboration between Customs and traditional institutions in line with the Comptroller-General of Customs’ policy thrust on synergy and community engagement.
Expressing appreciation for the warm reception accorded him, the Acting Area Controller described Ipokia as home and acknowledged the sustained role of traditional rulers in maintaining peace and stability within the border community.
“Traditional rulers remain critical partners in the suppression of smuggling and the enhancement of national security,” Afeni said.
He reiterated the core mandates of the NCS, including trade facilitation, revenue generation, and anti-smuggling operations, while urging the traditional council to continue sensitizing community members on the dangers of illicit trade and its negative impact on national security and economic growth.
DC Afeni further highlighted the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, noting that such programmes were designed to discourage smuggling while promoting sustainable development in host communities.
In his response, His Royal Majesty, Oba Yisa Olaniyan, commended the Comptroller-General’s transformative leadership anchored on global best practices.
He described DC Afeni as a “son of the soil” and pledged the unwavering support and cooperation of the Ipokia kingdom.
The monarch further encouraged the Acting Area Controller to carry out his responsibilities “without fear or favour”, reaffirming that Ipokia remains a peaceful and law-abiding community committed to supporting the Federal Government’s economic objectives.
