President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated a N73 billion customs complex in Iperu, Ogun State. This significant infrastructure project is designed to bolster trade facilitation, enforcement, and revenue generation for the Nigeria Customs Service.
The new facility is home to the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ and is situated on a 100-hectare site featuring 142 buildings. Its strategic location in the Ijebu North Local Government Area aims to provide international-standard operational capacity, particularly for customs activities in Lagos and the South-West region.
The inauguration underscores the administration's commitment to decentralizing federal operations from congested urban centers. Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, highlighted that the complex will significantly improve operational efficiency, enhance officers’ welfare, and strengthen enforcement capabilities.
Adeniyi noted that the project is approximately 45% complete, despite its substantial N73 billion estimated cost from inception. He appealed for a review of initial approval aspects to ensure its full completion within the current administration's tenure.
The scale of the development addresses the growing demands on Customs operations, which have outpaced the capacity of the existing Ikeja command office in Lagos. "All FOU activities in Lagos will eventually move to Iperu," Adeniyi stated, explaining that operational expansion over the past three decades necessitated a move to a more strategic and spacious environment.
The new site is intended to centralize enforcement and logistics operations, thereby improving coordination across land, sea, and air channels. The complex is also planned to include a customs training college, warehouse facilities, and supporting infrastructure to enhance institutional capacity.
Adeniyi also disclosed that officers have already been deployed to the Ogun airport to manage cargo operations, following federal approvals obtained in the last six months. He expressed gratitude to Governor Dapo Abiodun for providing the land and acknowledged former Comptroller-General Ahmed Alli for initiating the development and securing the site.
