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With the Meritorious Retirement of Compt. (Mrs) Abubakar, DC Kukoyi Fits into the Large Size of Shoes at LFTZ Customs as Area Comptroller, Pledges to Build on Laid Foundation
Deputy Comptroller O Kukoyi, The New Customs Sheriff, CAC, LFTZ Command, NCS
The leadership transition at the Lagos Free Trade Zone yesterday September 31st, 2026 was greeted with a mix bag of feelings as many rued the exit of Comptroller (Mrs) Abubakar, a gallant Amazon of customs, a caring mother and an officer that left a long lasting legacy in terms of achievements, as well as pulsating effect in her humane posture at the highly technical command. However, many others are full of high expectations on the future of the command to be led by the new Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller O Kukoyi, a refined and no nonsense officer of the service who many believed will stop at nothing to achieve great success at any given task in his varios leadership dispositions within the NCS.
The Lagos Free Trade Zone Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has witnessed a leadership transition as Comptroller HKA Abubakar (Mrs.) formally handed over the affairs of the Command to Deputy Comptroller O Kukoyi, who has assumed duty as the Acting Customs Area Controller.
The official Transition at LFTZ Command, from Compt. (Mrs) Hawa Abubakar the outgone CAC to Deputy Comptroller Kukoyi, the New CAC
According to the statement made signed by the Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi-Lagos Abiola, during the transition that followed the retirement of Comptroller Abubakar after 35 years of meritorious service to the Nigeria Customs Service, the new Acting Controller, Deputy Comptroller Kukoyi in his remarks commended Comptroller Abubakar for her contributions to revenue generation, enforcement, trade facilitation and stakeholder management.
Kukoyi arriving the command
He however pledged to build on the foundations established by his predecessor, with his administration anchored on the Comptroller-General’s strategic policy thrust of Consolidation, Collaboration and Innovation.
Deputy Comptroller Kukoyi further stated that the Command would prioritize technology-driven operations, improved trade facilitation and stronger enforcement, while aligning with the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business initiatives, as he specifically highlighted the National Single Window Project, the One-Stop-Shop Post-Clearance Mechanism and the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System as key tools for improving efficiency, reducing cargo clearance delays and strengthening revenue assurance.
Similarly, the Acting Controller pledged stronger engagement with stakeholders and sister agencies, while calling on officers and men of the Command to uphold integrity, discipline and professionalism. He emphasized that the Command’s responsibilities include generating revenue for the nation, facilitating legitimate trade and contributing to national security and economic development.
Earlier, Comptroller (Mrs) Abubakar during her retirement and valedictory ceremony, expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR dsm fnipr fniia Ph.d psc(+), and the Management of the Service for the opportunity to serve, as well as officers, stakeholders and partner agencies for their support throughout her career.
She Reflected that her tenure at the command generated ₦557,020,127,999.18 between January and August 2026, as she attributed the achievement, alongside other operational gains, to teamwork, discipline, professionalism and the collective commitment of officers and stakeholders.
She was full of appreciation to the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), Free Zone operators, Lekki Port, Lekki Freeport Terminal, sister security and regulatory agencies, customs brokers, traditional institutions and host communities for their cooperation and support in promoting effective operations, security and trade facilitation within the Command.
Abubakar however urged officers, stakeholders and partner agencies to extend the same cooperation to her successor, stressing that while positions may change, the collective objectives of the Nigeria Customs Service remain constant. She expressed confidence in the new leadership and wished Deputy Comptroller Kukoyi a successful tenure, while the Command wished her a peaceful and fulfilling retirement.
