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Adeniyi, CGC, storms Ilela border town to enforce Nigeria – Niger Republic border closure

The Eyewitness Reporter
The Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Wale Adeniyi, has visited the Nigeria- Niger Republic border town at Ilela, Sokoto State to monitor the closure of the border between the two West African countries.
The closure of the border followed the recent overthrow of a democratically elected government in the Niger Republic which prompted the Nigerian Government to shut down the Nigeria border with the Francophone West African country.
The CGC, who was at the border town Friday with his entourage, assured the residents of the area that the exercise was not meant to infuse hardship on them
He however expressed delight with the level of compliance by the residents.
According to him, the measure was a decision taken by ECOWAS, which the Nigerian President chairs, adding that “we are optimistic that this effort will yield positive results, and I must tell you that President Tinubu is committed to restoring peace in this axis.”
He also said that the exercise would secure Nigeria’s Democracy and social stability, considering the current state of uncertainty in the neighbouring Niger Republic.
Responding to questions from newsmen as to whether the exercise will affect Customs’ mandate of generating revenue, the CGC said the Service is aware of the situation – and has already taken proactive measures to address it strategically.
He reiterated that the administration of President Ahmad Bola Tinubu is committed to protecting the well-being of the citizens and their businesses, saying that “I have the optimism that borders will soon be opened and businesses of Nigerians will continue to thrive.”
He said, “President Tinubu, as a champion of the region, has measured responsibility to promote trade, and we are all aware that trade can’t be achieved where there’s no peace. However, considering what’s happening in Niger, which affects the political stability of the sovereign nation, my mission here is to restate the directive of President Tinubu as the ECOWAS Chairman.”
Similarly, the Comptroller-General had also engaged traditional rulers and other stakeholders at the Illela border.
Chairman Association of Customs License Agents, Alhaji Aminu Dan-Iya, who spoke on behalf of the stakeholders, consoled residents around the affected area and the entire stakeholders to understand the situation, stressing that “the decision was for our benefit, thus no need to panic.”
In another development, the CGC also paid a courtesy visit to Sarkin Gobir of Gwadabawa, Alhaji Lawali Muhammad Zayyana, to seek his support towards achieving the mandates of the service.
Addressing the Emir, the CGC told him that “today, with our delegation, we are embarking on a journey to Illela Border Station to inspect and monitor the level of compliance of President Tinubu’s order of closing borders and to also interact with the members of the border community.”
While appreciating the traditional ruler for his sustained support to the Service, the CGC also commended his passion for promoting good cordial relationships between the community and the operatives of the Service.
Responding, the Sarkin Gobir of Gwadabawa, Alhaji Zayyana, welcomed the CGC and his entourage while also taking him through the history of the Palace.
He felicitated the CGC on his appointment and assured him of his Palace’s unwavering support to ensure he spent a hitch-free tenure.
“Having disputes could sometimes be seen as natural, but I wish to give assurance of my support to win over the residents of this Emirate,” he concluded.
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Customs

Customs shortlists 286,697 candidates from 573,523 applicants eyeing 3,927 vacancies.

– lists conditions for next stage of recruitment exercise
Funso OLOJO 
As the race for the 3,927 slots in the Nigeria customs service gets hotter, the Service has shortlisted 286,697 candidates from the total number of 573,523 candidates who applied for the plum job in December, 2024.
In a press statement by the management of the service on the recruitment exercise, 286,697 candidates have been invited to proceed to the next phase of the exercise after a rigorous documentary scrutiny.
According to the Service, the second stage of the exercise is scheduled to take place from September 14th to 21st, 2025 and will be conducted through an online Computer-Based Test (CBT).
The method of examination is a reflection of the Service’s commitment to transparency, accessibility, and fairness in the selection process.
“Candidates shortlisted for the CBT are required to undertake the test at any location of their choice, provided there is reliable internet access.
“The exercise must, however, be conducted using a laptop or desktop computer equipped with a webcam and a full-screen display, as the application is not mobile phone-enabled.
“A facial verification process will be carried out during login; therefore, candidates are advised to maintain a neat appearance to avoid difficulties with recognition.
“The CBT application is sensitive to noise and body movement. Accordingly, candidates must remain fully focused throughout the test’s duration, as excessive movement, whispering, or background distractions may result in automatic logout by the system.
“In the same vein, candidates are advised to avoid switching between windows during the test, as such actions will be flagged as malpractice and may lead to disqualification.
“To further assist shortlisted applicants, the Service has made provisions for a mandatory pre-test exercise, which will be conducted two days before the actual CBT.
“This session will enable candidates to familiarise themselves with the application.
” In this regard, two separate links will be sent to all shortlisted applicants, one for the pre-test and another for the actual examination.
“Candidates who applied for the Superintendent Cadre (Level 8) should note that they will be invited for an additional CBT in the next phase of the recruitment exercise.
“This provision does not apply to the Inspectorate and Customs Assistant cadres.
“The Nigeria Customs Service assures all stakeholders that the ongoing recruitment process remains strictly merit-driven and transparent.
“Successful candidates will be duly informed of subsequent phases of the exercise through the Service’s official communication channels, the details of which will be conveyed in due course.
 “Applicants are strongly advised to adhere strictly to the issued guidelines and to rely solely on verified official platforms of the Service for authentic updates, as the NCS will neither request any form of payment nor conduct recruitment activities on social media platforms” the statement concluded.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is pleased to inform the general public on the progress of its ongoing recruitment exercise, which commenced with an official advertisement published in national newspapers on Friday, 27th December 2024.
In line with its statutory mandate to strengthen manpower capacity and enhance service delivery, a total of 3,927 vacancies were declared across the Superintendent, Inspectorate, and Customs Assistant cadres.
The Service received a total of 573,523 applications during the first phase of the exercise.
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Customs

Comptroller Oshoba hits the ground running with record of N20 billion revenue collection in single day

Gloria Odion 
The new Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, has served a strong message about his intention to beat the record of his predecessor, Assistant Comptroller- General of Customs, Babatunde Olomu as he has a collection of N20 billion in a single day.
The new Controller made this feat barely 24 hours after he assumed office on Monday, September 8th, 2025.
The latest record-breaking collection now stands as the highest daily revenue of any command in the Nigeria Customs Service, using the Unified Customs Management System, also known as B’Odogwu
This record has not only broken the existing ₦18b achieved by the command but has also confirmed the new CAC’s resolve to meet and surpass the revenue target set for the command as stated in his maiden address on Monday
Shortly after taking over, Comptroller Oshoba met with senior officers of the command where he commended them for the great feats achieved in the past with a directive urging them to increase their tempo of productivity.
He reminded them that outstanding results are the real proof of hard work, dedication and uncompromising disposition to duty and that he believes they could do better than they did before his arrival.
On the recent ₦20.1b collection in a day, Comptroller Oshoba said it’s only the beginning of greater exploits and it’s not time for celebration because he foresees greater achievements for the flagship command of NCS under his leadership
He described B’Odogwu as a necessity in the build-up to a more modern and efficient customs administration in Nigeria with potential to strengthen the country’s position as Africa’s largest economy noted for trade facilitation.
“I commend my team and stakeholders for this great milestone of ₦20.1b collection in one day just 24 hours after I resumed here.
” It’s not the time to clap yet because clapping means removing your two hands from work to celebrate.
“Let’s leave the celebration and applause for days ahead when we shall have future achievements of surpassing targets, curbing any attempted smuggling or concealment and treating trade with productive speed without compromising our integrity.
“I believe in action, which speaks louder than words
“We are all part of history as our collective efforts are resonating positively on the Nigerian economy.
” I urge my officers to keep the great work going and for the stakeholders, they should stay on the path of compliance ” Comptroller Oshoba said.
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Customs

Olomu recounts achievements as he bows out of Apapa Customs command amidst applause 

– hands over big shoe to Comptroller Oshoba
Gloria Odion 
For 15 performance – parked months,the newly promoted Assistant Comptroller- General of Customs, ACG Babatunde Olomu, bestrode the landscape of Apapa command of the Nigeria customs service like a Colossus.
His blistering performance saw him set revenue record of N2 trillion in 2024 while he handed over N1.8 trillion receipt collected so far in 2025, which was 60 percent of the N3 trillion annual revenue target of the command.
According to Olomu, who handed the baton of leadership of the command to Comptroller E O Oshoba on Monday, September 8th, 2025, the Apapa command under his watch also achieved a record-breaking single-day revenue of ₦17.9 billion on June 19, 2024, surpassed by ₦18.2 billion in October 2024, and later ₦18.9 billion on March 14, 2025.
For August 2025 alone, the command also generated ₦214.9 billion despite initial technical hitches that accompanied the introduction of B’Odogwu, the Unified Customs Management System (UCMS).
On trade facilitation, Olomu recalled that Apapa Port played a pioneering role in Nigeria’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), including the first historic shipment under the Guided Trade Initiative in July 2024 and a subsequent shipment to Kenya in November of the same year.
He also stressed his administration’s success in promoting faster cargo clearance, dispute resolution, and compliance.
In anti-smuggling operations, the outgone CAC revealed that the command seized 75 containers of contraband within his tenure, comprising fake and expired medicaments, codeine syrup, tramadol, cannabis, used clothing, and other prohibited items.
With this impressive performance, Olomu, recently elevated to the management cadre of the Service as a ACG, bowed out from the leadership of the Apapa command command with a thunderous applause and commendations from stakeholders who believed he had left behind a big shoe for his successor,  Comptroller E.O.A. Oshoba.
The new Customs Area Controller pledged to sustain the achievements of his predecessor while bringing new energy into the command.
He commended Olomu’s record-breaking tenure and assured that he would build on the legacies of transparency, integrity, and modernization.
Oshoba outlined his leadership philosophy as “Look, Listen, and Learn,” noting that his immediate focus would be to understand the peculiar challenges of the command and collaborate with officers and stakeholders to address them.
The new helmsman called for renewed dedication and maximum cooperation, stressing that “no one succeeds alone.”
Comptroller Oshoba promised to deepen ongoing reforms under the Comptroller-General, especially in trade facilitation, ICT deployment, and global best practices.
He pledged to strengthen programs such as the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO), Time Release Study (TRS), and Advanced Ruling (AR), while pushing the UCMS to greater heights.
“As Nigeria now chairs the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, we must uphold compliance, transparency, and innovation to maintain our leadership role in global customs administration,” Oshoba stated.
He assured stakeholders that his tenure would prioritize inclusiveness, innovation, and excellence, promising to “sustain the excellent records achieved and, by the grace of God, break new grounds for Nigeria through Apapa Port.”
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