By Cosmas Okereafor
The journey of ten thousand miles many would say begins slowly, and steadily with a step especially the one that leads to greatness. This old long saying applies to the present Comptroller of Customs, Murtala Mohammed Area Command (MMAC), Godwin Aderounmu Otunla, who took charge of MMAC following his appointment by the Customs high command towards the tail end of last year, 2025. An accomplished customs officer you may call him, Comptroller Otunla, a native of Ogbomosho in Oyo state, and the son of Pa and Mrs Emmanuel Aderebigbe Otunla, attended Ogbomosho Grammar School. After his secondary education which he completed in record time, he proceeded to the Federal College of Education, an affiliate of the University of Ibadan, where he obtained an NCE Certificate in Education. Not done yet, he also enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree, at Ajayi Crowther University, where he also came out in flying colours.
Comptroller Otunla was enlisted in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in 1992. At the Nigeria Customs, he went through basic training at the Customs Training College, Kano and since that time, he had served at various sensitive places at the Nigeria Customs at different capacities. For example, at Katsina Area Command he was the Patrol Duty Officer, while at Port Harcourt 1 Area Command, he was the monitoring Unit officer. At Kirikiri Lighter Terminal- Customs Processing Centre (CPC), he was the Data processing officer. At Edo and Delta Area Command- Excise Factory, he superintended as the (Guiness), officer.Otunla became the Personal Assiatant (PA), to the Customs Area Comptroller (CAC) and again, Personal Assistant ( PA), to the Customs Area Comptroller (CAC), Seme Area Comptroller at different times. He was also a Personal Assistant at some point to the Assistant Comptroller General (ACG, before undertaking yet another assignment at Tariff and Trade Department (HQ)- MMIA Valuation Unit Officer, leading to his posting to Ogun 1 Area Command as Import Seat Officer and later to PTML Area Command, and again as Personal Assistant (PA) to the CAC.
The resourceful Comptroller had virtually worked in all the commands and these are not limited to; Tin Can Island Port Command, Excise, Free Trade Zone(FTZ), the Defunct CGC Strike Force, West Zone A, Lagos amongst other sensitive places within the Nigeria Customs formation. His posting to MMAC by the federal government where he is currently serving is considered as round peg in a round hole. He is expected to bring his wealth of knowledge to bear and turn things around in terms of revenue generation, moral boosting of officers and men and also man power development at the MMAC Command. Comptroller Otunla is widely travelled and had attended many courses locally and internationally. He enjoys reading and listening to good music.
