By Yasir Adam
The Adamawa/Taraba Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officially marked a seamless leadership transition on Monday, 2 November 2026, during a ceremony at the command headquarters in Yola, Adamawa State. The event featured both the official handover of operational leadership and the reopening of the commander’s newly upgraded medical clinic.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday, 3 November 2026, by the Command Public Relations Officer, Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Titus Naomi. According to the statement, the outgoing Customs Area Controller, Acting Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Mohammed Tako, transferred leadership to Deputy Comptroller Mamman Ali.
The ceremony was attended by key dignitaries, including the Acting Customs Comptroller of the North Eastern Marine Command, Deputy Comptroller Joseph Ikewun, Officers and Men of the Command, critical trade stakeholders, and members of the Press.
Reflecting on his 11-month tenure from 9 December 2025 to 2 November 2026, Ag. ACG Tako highlighted the command’s strategic milestone in revenue generation and anti-smuggling enforcement, revealing that under his stewardship, the command intercepted various contraband items with a cumulative Duty Paid Value of N530,975,193.91. “We significantly strengthened enforcement operations while sustaining stakeholder engagement and maintaining a peaceful working environment to safeguard national economic interests and security,” he said.
Following his elevation to Acting ACG and deployment as Zonal Coordinator, Zone B, Tako expressed profound gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi and the management of the Service. He further acknowledged officers and men of the command, sister agencies, community stakeholders, and the media for their steadfast cooperation throughout his tenure.
He charged officers to double their vigilance, remain resolute in border protection, and extend even greater loyalty, discipline, and operational support to his successor than he accorded him.
In his inaugural speech, the incoming Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Mamman Ali, thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs and his management team for his appointment, while commending his predecessor’s notable achievements. “I will build upon the legacies of my predecessor, review existing operational strategies and introduce strategic improvements where necessary to attain even greater milestones,” DC Ali said.
He assured stakeholders and sister agencies of deeper inter-agency synergy, anchoring his operational approach in the Comptroller-General’s policy thrust of consolidation, innovation and collaboration. Reassuring officers of his open-minded, results-oriented leadership, he emphasised the need for strong teamwork while explicitly stating that indiscipline will not be tolerated.
