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Who Is Afraid Of Transparency In Customs’ Operations?

Bomodi

Timi Bomodi

On September 26, 2021, members of Freight Forwarding Associations and Customs Licensed agents, including executives and members of thE Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents(ANLCA), National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders(NAGAFF) and three other associations held a meeting at a popular hotel in Apapa, Lagos.

Among other things they were reported to have complained about was an intended hike in license fees, arbitrary increases in Nigeria Customs Service duty, hikes in the values of Pre-Arrival Assessment Reports(PAAR) issued to importers, the conduct of Valuation Officers, uncertainty or inconsistencies in tariff classifications for certain goods, frequent alerts, and the illogic of government giving revenue targets to Customs, especially in an era of trade facilitation.

Again on October 5th, 2021, and in response to the invitation of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs, ANLCA was quoted to have said that “the present Customs Management is not interested in professionalism and trade facilitation,  but to circumvent all processes for revenue generation”.

The Nigeria Customs recognises and acknowledges the rights of Nigerians to freely organise, assemble and associate for the purpose of articulating group goals, visions, and objectives.

The NCS also acknowledges truth as the ultimate instrument which can free the maritime industry from the shackles of deceit and liberate our economy from the trenchant actions of those committed to sabotaging our efforts.

This is why it has become imperative to correct the numerous misrepresentations about the NCS contained in both their press release and the presentation made before the House Committee on Customs.

These recent outbursts and accusations do not come as a surprise.

In truth, Nigerians are not fooled by the current cavalier attitude of certain persons who for far too long, had an entrenched culture of opacity and disrespect for laws, regulations, rules, and procedures when it comes to making proper declarations for the purpose of paying correct government duties and taxes. Understanding their antecedents will throw more light on their recent ‘crusade’ against the current management of NCS.

Some executive members of these associations have long abandoned their responsibilities in entrenching professionalism among their colleagues.

They have forgotten their oath of honesty in their dealings with the government and have taken to the pursuit of power for personal aggrandizement. They have attempted to use their positions to procure favours for themselves and their companies.

When confronted with the force of reason, they have resorted to threats and blackmail . Incapable of articulating their positions in reference to our books of laws, they have resorted to intimidation, and have even facilitated physical attacks on our officers.

In all these situations, officers of the Nigeria Customs have refused to be cowed. We have remained resolute in our commitment to the government by towing the path of honor.

Our achievements in revenue collection and anti-smuggling speak for themselves. The current management under the watch of the Comptroller General, Colonel Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd), has shown exceptional leadership in this regard.

Our systems have been put through a good number of iterations.  From ASYCUDA I, II, & ++, to NICIS I & II. We are currently on the verge of migrating to E-Customs, which will herald a new epoch,  as all Customs activities will be electronically enabled.

The simplification, harmonisation, and automation of Customs activities are in tandem with WCO and WTO objectives for trade facilitation. Our commitment to this reality is unshakeable and our actions bear testament to our resolve.

We also note that trade compliance is a sine qua non for trade facilitation. Where the level of compliance is low, the level of control becomes high.

Some agents and Customs brokers have taken abnormalities as rights. They have assumed the role of activists, encouraging illegal behaviours.

This cannot be accepted as no government agency worth its name will allow itself to be swayed by the whims and caprices of those whose actions they are supposed to superintend. Indeed it will be a complete dereliction of duty if we succumb to these and other attempts.

The disposition of NCS management is neither authoritarian nor archaic. Its actions have always been guided by federal government policy decisions in line with international agreements and conventions on trade.

Contrary to their claims, there has been no attempt to arbitrarily increase the license fee of Customs Licensed Agents. It is important to note that the fees payable by Customs Licensed agents are  as approved by law outlined in section 156 of CEMA as amended.  The only recourse to a revision in fees can only be as dictated to by extant laws.

Arbitrary increase in Customs duty.

There are two main avenues for the adjustment of duty payable to the government that a Customs officer can legally activate.

Where the transaction value declared for an item is questionable and where the classification of the item is wrong.

The former refers to the declared CIF value, while the latter concerns the HS code for that item.

Part II of the Common External Tariff prescribes ‘General Rules for the interpretation of the Harmonised System’.

There are six rules in total and they provide clear, unambiguous guidelines for the classification of all goods under the CET. These rules are not subject to the interpretation of Customs officers alone as they are captured in simple English for the enlightenment of all persons equipped with the proper understanding of that language.

In addition to the interpretative rules are chapter headings and the explanatory notes which are designed to further highlight grey areas both of inclusions and exclusions as deemed appropriate for classification purposes.

The issue of value has also been comprehensively addressed in the WTO Agreement for Customs value adopted in Article VII of General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs, 1994.

This agreement provides a Customs Valuation method primarily based on the transaction value of the imported goods, also known as either the price ACTUALLY PAID or PAYABLE for the goods when sold for export to the country of importation.

In addition to the transaction value, WTO prescribes five other methods that can be applied successively. So the transaction value is followed by:

The transaction value of identical goods
The transaction value of similar goods

The deductive value method

The computed value method

The fall-back method.

In applying these rules for Customs valuation, the Service has noticed frequent attempts by importers, and, or their agents to falsify transaction values in order to evade the payment of correct duties.

Their insistence on uniform values for cars of the same make and manufacture is at best illogical when we agree that there are no uniform purchase prices, especially for cars from diverse locations.

A true declaration of the purchase value for cars should suffice,  but agents have been known to deliberately mislead importers, by promising them lower duties even when they’ve been furnished with the correct information. Competition among themselves for customers has itself become inimical to honest declarations for tax purposes.

Freight, being an important consideration for assessing value, needs to be highlighted.
Indeed in recent times, there have been sharp increases in shipping costs across the globe occasioned by the effects of the pandemic refs:https://www.wsj.com/articles/container-ship-prices-skyrocket-as-rush-to-move-goods-picks-up-11625482800https://amp.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3147013/chinas-shipping-container-costs-hit-all-time-highs-andhttps://www.reuters.com/business/china-us-container-shipping-rates-sail-past-20000-record-2021-08-05/.

The above links from Reuters, Wall Street Journal, and others can be easily verified.

The cost of freight alone is one out of three components which when added up, defines the value for duty.

The others are the cost of the product itself and the insurance payable for the goods in transit, otherwise known as the CIF value.

Where the value of the goods remains constant, but the freight rate changes, it will have an effect on the total CIF value of the goods assessed for duty.

In this case, the transaction value must be a true representation of the actual monetary component of the exchange.

In addition to this is the increase in the exchange rate. Where all other components of value remain constant, the exchange rate alone can trigger increases in value for duty.

It is, therefore, curious to observe individuals insisting on retaining the same historical values contrary to abundant current evidence.

What the Nigeria Customs Service has been inundated with are fictional representations of this monetary component which bear no resemblances to present realities. In truth, a good number of Customs agents and importers have been connected with this unwholesome practice.

Even the agents themselves cannot recognise the obvious contradictions in their statements. In one breath, they demand uniform values for cars but insist on totally different standards for other commodities.

There are no benchmarks for costs, values, or duty. However, when agents resort to cooking up invoices with the intention of evading duty, we are also duty-bound to adjust those values using the WTO Agreement on Customs Valuation, to reflect reality.

Where there is honesty in intention and action, the NCS can only reciprocate in good faith.

We live in a world where authenticating documents submitted for the validation of Customs has been made easy by technology.

The NCS has at its disposal the historical records of all imports/exports, importers/exporters, and a comprehensive index of values submitted by importers themselves.

The Service has numerous resources at its disposal for the verification, authentication, and adjustment of submitted data.

The same agents develop selective amnesia when confronted with the historical data of their importers within defined periods as cross-referenced from our system

We understand the frustrations of some of these agents as reports reaching Customs Headquarters indicate a radical change in the trajectory of business practices at our ports and borders.

This penchant for cutting corners as exemplified in false declarations and illegal deductions in Customs values is constantly checkmated by diligent officers intent on facilitating legitimate trade only.

So their anger is not for the number of alerts in the system but for being stopped by it. With the introduction of artificial intelligence and machine learning, more loopholes in the system will be identified and plugged.

We hope when this happens, they will attend anger management classes to save themselves the cost of managing their health.

As agents of the government, we can only live to the billings and briefs issued to us by our supervising ministry. Revenue collection, being one of our duties, is one to which we are wholly committed as attested to by our groundbreaking achievements in current and previous years.

We owe no organisation any explanation in our commitment to collecting revenue for the government. Our risk management protocols are determined by the strategic needs of the Service.

Our risk management techniques have been quite effective as evidenced in duty recoveries, and landmark seizures.

The activities of FOU and other intervention units of the Service are all part of the same risk management architecture. Officers who were found to be complicit in aiding the illegal activities of agents have been shown the way out.

Others with more grievous offences have been prosecuted in the courts.

The recent installation of scanners at a few of our ports will address the challenge of physical examination of goods and we look forward to their full engagement as it will no doubt help to facilitate trade.

We are also mindful of the impact our actions can have on legitimate traders, that is why we have provided avenues for the expedited clearance of goods under the fast track and other facilitative channels for businesses with unblemished records.

Often when disputes on classification and, or value arise following examination, a lot of time is wasted on baseless arguments.

Because most agents are not grounded in the rudiments of the Common External Tariff, and other books of instructions, they tend to use bargaining as a tool for resolving disputes, when all they need do is make superior submissions by referring to relevant books of authority.

Meanwhile, the system has provided outlets that allow for goods to be released under bank indemnity while the issues in dispute are being resolved. This mechanism is entrenched in the Post Clearance Audit department.

The Service takes serious exceptions to attempts by individuals or associations to intimidate or blackmail its officers in the course of their official functions.

While complaints and feedback are encouraged from agents and other members of the public, we reiterate our right to determine for ourselves frameworks for effective and efficient performances within the ambit of the law and executive orders.

The security situation in the country demands a dynamic approach to effective border management. The deployment of our assets is as dictated by intelligence and the risk profiling mechanisms of the Service. Those without skeletons in their cupboards have absolutely no reason to be afraid.

Finally, the NCS awaits the success of their recommendations to the government regarding revenue targets to Customs, so we can concentrate on trade facilitation and anti-smuggling activities alone. As always, our resolve for fulfilling our mandate is matched only with our determination for success and we remain totally focussed in this regard.

 Bomodi is the Deputy National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service.

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Customs

Tinubu’s economic agenda, Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 and need for management stability

By Okey IBEKE 
On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Hon. Leke Abejide, led his committee to the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service on an oversight visit. While addressing the  officers, he hinted that the House was planning an amendment of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 in order to ensure a four-year statutory tenure for the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC).
Hon. Abejide said the tenure of the CGC would have been stipulated in the law when it was promulgated, but for the legal adviser of the House who opposed it on the grounds that the civil service rule supersedes it.
Alluding to how such an amendment has been working in the Nigeria Police Force, he regretted that the House could not do the right thing when the occasion presented itself because of the legal adviser’s advice. He gave the assurance that the House is ready to implement the amendment now.
As a matter of fact, the House Committee deserves commendation for this introspection and recognition of the disadvantage of keeping the tenure of CGC tied to the Civil Service rules. The House deserves commendation for promptly recognizing the damage this omission will cause for the Service now and in the future as well as the economy of the nation, should the Act and the government continue to remain silent on CGC’s tenure.
It should be noted that President Tinubu inherited a totally dysfunctional Nigeria Customs Service that was for eight years headed by a retired army colonel, Hameed Ali. Ali was drafted out of retirement by former President Muhamadu Buhari, after more than 16 years in retirement, to head a highly technical organization like Customs.
The eight years the retired army colonel held sway in Customs took heavy toll on the technical skills, managerial and operational capabilities of the Customs. The Service became militarized as a serving army officer, one Colonel Buhari, brought to the Service as Principal Staff Officer by Ali, took over headship and control of key operations.
So, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came on board, the Nigeria Customs Service was in dire need of a competent leader, a true professional to effectively drive and lead changes that would make immediate impact on the execution of the President’s economic policies.
President Tinubu found such a personality in Bashiru Wale Adeniyi MFR, then a Deputy Comptroller-General, a thoroughbred, highly cerebral Customs officer, whom he appointed the Comptroller General of the Service, on June 19, 2023.
Adeniyi, at the time of his appointment, had over 30 years-experience in Customs administration, especially in the areas of strategic and operational responsibilities. Apart from possessing a deep understanding of the complex and constantly evolving international trade landscape, Adeniyi among many other competencies, has a strong command of Customs regulations, laws, and procedures as well as the ability to navigate and adapt to changing policies and international trade complexities. These are the qualities needed for effective management of a modern Customs service.
Before his appointment, Wale Adeniyi had coordinated engagements with International Organizations including: World Customs Organization (WCO), World Trade Organization (WTO), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Role of Nigeria Customs Service in the Nation’s Economy 
It is noteworthy that the role of Nigeria Customs Service has expanded from its core statutory mandate in keeping with the evolving national economic demands, changing fiscal policies and developments in global trade.
Apart from discharging its core function of revenue collection, anti-smuggling and trade facilitation, Customs now plays a crucial role in the collection of statistics, which are essential for balance of payments and the formulation of fiscal and trade policies. It also ensures compliance with safety and security standards and contribute to the fight against terrorism and money laundering.
The agency’s task also includes correct application of tariffs to the benefit and protection of local industry, ensuring that incentives aimed at attracting investment and building local capacity and providing employment are not abused, thus contributing to economic development.
The Service is also the primary enforcer of the country’s trade policies, quota restrictions, anti-dumping measures, trade embargoes, intellectual property rights, environmental and wildlife conservation laws.
In the light of all these, it becomes manifestly clear that realization of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform policies, largely depends, apart from other organizations, on a knowledgeable, skilled, resourceful, innovative and effective Customs Service. The present customs administration led by Adewale Adeniyi, it must be observed, embodies these qualities.
Adeniyi’s Strategic Agenda, Policy Measures, Activities and Achievements
On assumption of office, Adeniyi, in line with the President’s reform agenda and with the understanding of the country’s precarious economic situation, saw the need to initiate a transformation that was both courageous and result oriented.
He, thus, hinged his policy direction and action plans on an agenda of “Collaboration, Consolidation and Innovative Solutions”. The agenda according to him, was born out of the need to:
*Adopt modern customs governance, strategic orientation, transparency and accountability.
*Groom qualified human resources and embracing an integrity, knowledge and merit based promotions, staff deployment and management framework.
*Foster a competitive domestic economy through fair revenue collection and risk-based border controls.
*Adopt user-friendly procedures and collaboration with other agencies and stakeholders based on the four pillars of trade facilitation: transparency, simplification, harmonization and standardization.
*Identify current challenges and risks posed by emerging complexities in international trade and optimize the use of data and integrated risk management to mitigate threats and facilitate trade.
*Explore opportunities that abound in Information and Communication Technologies, and applications of other modern advanced technologies for data analytics and artificial intelligence.
These needs were patterned along the three pillars of the World Customs Organization’s SAFE Frameworks of Standards, which are: Customs-to-Customs network arrangements, Customs-to-Business partnerships, and Customs-to-other government agencies cooperation.
In demonstration of his expertise in addressing the identified needs, Adeniyi immediately introduced series of short and long term measures, which were aimed at plugging revenue leakages, securing of the borders, streamlining the customs clearance process and addressing the eight years dysfunctional system that had existed in the Service. Some of the measures, include:
-The immediate setting up of a Revenue Review Performance Recovery Team.
-Dissolution of existing Strike Force Teams –a military legacy –that constituted the multiple layers of enforcement.
This was done to dismantle the multiple checkpoints that had been constituting barriers to legitimate trades.
-The introduction of the Advanced Ruling system which represents a notable stride targeted at aligning Customs operations with global best practices, in line with recommendations of the WTO TFA (World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement).
-The inauguration of a Steering Committee on the Implementation of the Authorized Economic Operators for Compliant Traders, with a clear focus on transitioning from the existing Fastrack 2.0 to the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO)concept.
-Interactions with the international community – WCO, JICA, Japan Customs among others on the implementation of the Customs Laboratory, adoption of geospatial, conduct of a Time Release Study to mention a few.
-Engagements with the Customs Administration of the Republic of Benin to address the existing gaps that sustains the activities of smugglers and revenue leakage.
-The constitution of a new management team, appointed strictly based on merit, upholding the principle of equitable geopolitical representation.
-A strategic deployment of Customs Area Controllers and other strategic units, also rooted in merit and in adherence to the principle of equity.
-The initiation of the development of a Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy for the Nigeria Customs Service, harmonized with the goal of contributing to the government’s development agenda.
-Finalizing arrangements with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to integrate operational systems and eradicate registration of smuggled vehicles.
-Engagement with several stakeholders including government agencies, non-governmental agencies and the private sector.
The effects of bold, diligent and effective implementation of these initiatives were felt immediately, not only in the ease of doing business, but mostly on revenue generation and quantity of seizures recorded by the Service in 2023.
That year, a remarkable amount of N3.2 trillion was collected into the Federation Account by the Service, representing 21.4 per cent increase compared to N2.64 trillion recorded in the preceding year, 2022.
This impressive revenue performance came in the midst of anxiety and CBN’s currency redesign policy associated with 2023 election.
The Service would have collected about N5.2 trillion, if N2 trillion was not lost to waivers and concessions granted investors by the government.
Notably, about sixty nine per cent of achievements for that year were made in the second half of the year –the period Adeniyi took charge of the Service.
The meteoric rise in performance of the Service continued as it generated a total sum of N6.105 trillion in 2024, surpassing the target of N5.079 trillion by N1.026 trillion, representing a 20.2% increase above the target given by the government. This is apart from about N1.2 trillion lost to local manufacturers in industrial incentives, through import duty waivers and concessions.
In pursuit of balancing revenue collection with trade facilitation, the Service did not lose focus on the need to protect Nigerians from the entry of harmful substances, import/export of restricted and prohibited goods.
It made 3,555 seizures with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N35.29 billion in 2024. These seizures, with a Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value of ₦28.46 billion and total duty of ₦6.83 billion, highlights the scale of attempted economic sabotage prevented by the Service.
The seizures of arms and ammunition, including 900 arms and 113,472 rounds of ammunition and the interception of narcotics and other illicit drugs, resulting in 105 seizures across various forms, was aided by the declaration of a state of emergency at our major entry points.
The Service also intercepted unauthorized pharmaceutical products, with 40 seizures including 175,676 pieces and 6,271 cartons of various medicaments valued at ₦3.04 billion, protecting public health from potentially dangerous counterfeit drugs.
The Service’s enforcement activities also revealed evolving patterns in environmental and wildlife crimes, with 76 seizures of animal/wildlife products valued at ₦5.93 billion.
The Service has predictably maintained its performance trajectory as it has recorded a revenue collection of N1.751 trillion in the first quarter of this year, 2025. This revenue is about N106.5 billion above the quarterly target.
The Service also maintained robust anti-smuggling operations during the quarter, recording 298 seizures with a total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of ₦7,698,557,347.67. This represents a significant 78.41% increase compared to the ₦4,315,162,568.35 recorded in Q4 2024, demonstrating heightened operational effectiveness.
These seizures include rice, used tires, pharmaceuticals, wildlife products, pirated intellectual properties, petroleum products and textiles, etc.
With these remarkable achievements, there is no gainsaying that the Service, under the leadership of the Comptroller-General, Bashiru Adewale Adeniyi has been playing a critical role in making the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President a reality.
This much has been acknowledged by the President himself, Nigeria Customs Board, policy makers, organized private sector, local and international organizations.
Adeniyi has also garnered multiple commendations, honours and awards from diverse organizations.
Challenges
Apart from the persistent, age-long issue of smuggling; breach of fiscal policies by importers and their agents; abuse of government industrial incentives; some activities of other government agencies, shipping companies, terminal operators, maritime workers unions, state and local governments operatives and touts operating along ports access roads and transport unions; other challenges that pose a threat to the continued good performance of the Service, are impending knowledge/leadership gaps facing it and the failure of the NCS Act, 2023 to specify the tenure of Comptroller-General.
The Impending Knowledge/Leadership Gaps
The very impressive achievements by the Nigeria Customs Service under the present Customs management may not be sustained, unless a strong decision is taken to avert the impending knowledge and skill gaps facing the Service.
At the moment, there are no less than 791 senior officers of the Service, including three Deputy Comptrollers General (DCGs), seven Assistant Comptrollers General (ACGs), and 45 full Comptrollers of Customs that are to be statutorily discharged between January and September next year.
In accordance with the Public Service Rule (PSR) No. 100238 and Federal Government circular No. 100238, and Federal government circular 63216/S.1/x/T; CR1/2001/5 of 20/03/2001, all affected officers due for retirement in 2026 are to disengage from active service and proceed on three months pre-retirement leave, three months prior to the effective date of retirement.
This is apart from the same numbers of officers retiring this year, 2025.
This development will, no doubt, create a yawning gap in human capacity at the highly strategic agency.
The harm that will follow this retirement gale will be better imagined than experienced.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, though said that there is no need to panic as the current recruitment exercise and accelerated promotion examination in the month of May this year will fill the vacant positions.
He noted that the agency’s current policy on promotion is strategic, explaining that retirements and filling of vacancies will be seamless.
No doubt, the Comptroller-General may have designed strategies to redress and adhere strictly to this policy through the sustained yearly promotion exercise. But this cannot adequately address the situation.
It must be realized that there was no new recruitment into Customs for over 13 years.
The crop of officers who are in line for taking over the managerial, administrative and operational leadership, were enlisted in the service in 2009 and effectively started performing Customs duties in 2010, after six months of training.
This means that officers receiving accelerated promotions to fill top positions in the management cadre, have not stayed long enough in the service to garner the requisite experience to fill the vacant positions that will be created by the gales of retirements.
Accelerated promotion does not translate to accelerated knowledge and experience.
If the present crop of top officers leave, there will certainly be yawning skill, managerial, knowledge and leadership gaps that will impact negatively on the Service and its performance, especially with regards to implementation of most government’s fiscal policies.
The Imperative for Amendment of NCS ACT, 2023 and CGC’s Tenure Extension 
Following the Civil Service Rules, Adeniyi would have left the Service at the end of this year, with its obvious consequences.
More importantly, the programmes he initiated and the efficiency that the Service has attained under his leadership must be sustained in view of what is currently going on in the global economy. With crude prices plummeting, and with obvious consequences on the country’s finances, revenue from Customs will be needed to cushion the effects of the oil revenue shortfall.
Considering the giant leap in Customs revenue under Wale Adeniyi, the nation expects greater performance, not a sudden dip; hence the issue of tenure for the CGC must be settled for the good of the economy.
Every Nigerian knows that for any chief executive officer in any government organization to make the expected impact, he needs at least four years in the position.
So, tying an organization like the Customs Service to the Civil Service with its bureaucracies and limitations is a hindrance to the efficient running of the Service.
Telling a newly-appointed and performing CGC to go because he has served for 35 years or has reached the retirement age of 60 is a setback to the Service and quite detrimental to the economic well-being of the nation.
This has been a source of immense concern to stakeholders and informed observers.
Thus the decision of the House of Representatives Committee to bring up the issue of CGC’s tenure at this time is quite auspicious.
Not effecting amendment in the Customs Act, and extending the working time of the present CGC means that all the giant strides he has made in driving the economic agenda of government, may not be sustained.
Hence, the need to avert the impending crisis, and to address the over 13 years of non- recruitment in the Service and eight  years deficit of Colonel Hameed Ali’s management.
Since the House has given the clue, the President needs to consider initiating a process of amendment of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 to address the tenure issue.
The exigency of time and the peculiar situation in the agency demands that Adeniyi be allowed more time to complete the innovative tasks he has started, of which, most of are still in incubation periods.
Since the President had before now in anticipation of the impending leadership gap, graciously extended the services of about six management cadre of the agency, Adeniyi’s tenure should also be extended.
This is to give him enough time for the logical execution of several of his programmes, and to ensure adequate training and orientation of the young officers in preparation for their taking over the mantle of leadership.
Retaining the CGC for additional period of time, will enable for proper training and mentoring of those that will take over reigns of leadership.
This will also ensure that there will be little or no skill or knowledge gap by the time the CGC and those retained officers leave the Service as well as avert the challenges the situation poses to the President’s efforts at moving the country’s economy forward.
Okey IBEKE is the Principal Consultant, International Trade Advisory Services Ltd/Publisher, Business and Maritime West Africa
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Customs

Adeniyi promises to establish new Customs area command on Snake Island free zone for enhanced efficiency 

Gloria Odion 
The Nigeria Customs Service is finalizing arrangement to establish a new area command at the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ).
Making this declaration on Wednesday, April 30th, 2025 was the Comptroller- General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during his visit to the facility.
Adeniyi believe that the presence of the customs at the facility will enhance its operational efficiency and strengthen regulation at the free zone.
During the visit, the CGC expressed delight at the level of investment made on the island and commended Nigerdock, a maritime and logistics company, and operators of the SIIFZ, for their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.
“We are just at the stage where we are finalising all the documentation, and I am very sure that by the next time I visit this place, I’ll be received by a Customs Area Controller”, the CGC stated.
Adeniyi emphasised the importance of synergy between Customs and private sector operators in driving national economic goals.
 “We are looking forward to a symbiotic relationship, that which will benefit the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the Nigerdock as a corporate entity.”
The Managing Director of SIIFZ, Semiu Akorede, expressed appreciation for the Service’s support and highlighted the significance of the visit to the zone’s operational growth.
“Your coming here today is going to add a lot of value.
“We have enjoyed the support of Customs officers that are working with us here, and those that come here to carryout some operations, and I can confirm to you that we have been working together without any rancour”, he stated.
“The Consolidation of the activities we are asking for is going to assist in ensuring that we have a seamless operation moving forward”, he concluded.
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Customs

Customs reaches out to Sagbokoji community with “Customs cares” goodies 

— renovates school, heath centre, promises others amenities 
Funso OLOJO 
The train of Nigeria Customs’ “Customs Care” initiative , the Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) arm of the service, berthed at Sagbokoji, a sleepy coastal town in Amuwo Odofin local government area of Lagos state, with lot of goodies.
It was the turn of the island community to enjoy the hospitality of the service which its CSR initiative, “Customs Cares”,was giving out to communities  within the operational areas of the service in the country.
On Wednesday, April 30th, 2025, the train,led by Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of Customs,  accompanied by the Coordinator of Zone A, Assistant Comptroller General Orbih, Customs Area Controllers of Apapa and Tin Can Commands,  Babatunde Olomu and Frank Onyeka, and other officers of the service, braved the stormy waters that separate the community and Apapa port, the operational base of the service, to commission a primary school and health centre which the “Customs cares” renovated.
It was a joyful day for the islanders, pupils and workers as Local Authority Nursery and Primary School, and Sagbokoji Primary Health Centre renovated by the Nigeria Customs Service were commissioned  and handed over to the community amidst funfair.
Apart from the refurbishment of the primary school and the health centre, the Customs Cares also donated textbooks, school bags and writing materials to the pupils and various health equipment and drugs to the health centre.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, Valentine Oluseyi Buraimoh, appreciated the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and his management for the good gesture.
“This is the first that the uniform men are doing this kind of CSR in our local government.
” I am elevated, proud and happy for this gesture. I want to appreciate the Comptroller General of Customs and his entire management for this gesture.
” I thank you for renovating our school and health centre and the donations. We are grateful for considering Amuwo Odofin and Apapa,” the Chairman said
He presented a plague and a letter of appreciation to the Comptroller General of Customs ,Adewale Adeniyi.
The Baale of Sagbokoji, Alhaji Mohammed Adio Yusuf, thanked and appreciated the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for rehabilitation which he said demonstrated his love and commitment to education.
As Oliver Twist, the royal father appealed to the Comptroller General of Customs to extend such gesture to other communities on the island, pointing out that these communities lack a lot of social amenities.
He also  appealed to the Comptroller General of Customs to consider youths from the island for job opportunities in the Service.
Performing the opening of the refurbished projects, the Comptroller General of Customs, Adeniyi, apologized to the royal father, the Council Chairman, other guests and pupils for coming late and explained that it was due to other engagements at Apapa.
Tracing the history of the school, Adeniyi said it was  established by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was governor of Lagos 20 years ago, saying it was gratifying that an agency under him has come to upgrade its standard and infrastructure.
The Customs boss informed that the Service has engaged in a wider consultation with the host community and management of the school before arriving at the rehabilitation of both the school and the health centre.
He noted that the projects – education and healthcare – are one of the cores  mandate of the Customs Cares, pointing out that the Service had bought exercise books, writing materials and bags to be distributed to all the pupils.
Adeniyi maintained that the renovation exercise was the first step taken to enter into a partnership with the community as though “their demands were many but what we are doing in the school is just the beginning.”
He expressed concern about the absence of a junior secondary school in the community but promised that the Customs cares unit of the service will provide one for the people on the island.
Adeniyi also noted that the people on the island would need a bridge that will link the community to the outside world which he believed would bolster their businesses.
He therefore promised to engage the State government towards this direction.
“We can’t provide everything. We will join in the advocacy for provision of other amenities by the government for the community,” said Adeniyi, who appealed to the students to make use of the facilities very well with an assurance that more will come their ways.
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