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Adeniyi expresses gratitude to Tinubu over tenure extension, says gesture is call to service 

—  sets code of conduct for officers to rebrand Customs image.
Funso OLOJO 
The Comptroller- General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has expressed his heartfelt appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the extension of his tenure in office.
It could be recalled that President Tinubu recently granted an approval for the extension of the tenure of the CGC by another one year to enable him to complete his bold reforms he has initiated to reposition the service.
 Adeniyi, while unveiling a new code of conduct booklet for Customs officers in Abuja on Tuesday August 5th, 2025 to rebrand the service, declared that such  rare gesture from Mr President was a call to service and more hardwork.
” The extension of my tenure by Mr President is a renewed motivation and inspiration to do more in the service of the country.” an elated Adeniyi declared.
Meanwhile, in continuation of his efforts to reform and reposition the service, the CGC has launched a booklet containing a body of code of conduct for customs officers that will guide their interactions with the local and international audience in a bid to build the image of the service in a positive light.
Called the Reputation Management Guide, the booklet service as a moral compass for all customs Officers and  a key policy document aimed at reorienting officers on the values, behaviours, and standards required to uphold the service’s image.
The unveiling ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, was led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in the presence of management members, senior officers, communication professionals, and public relations practitioners.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General described the launch as a strategic milestone in the Service’s transformation agenda, noting that the new guide is intended to equip officers with practical tools to build trust, deepen transparency, and align with global expectations for modern customs administration.
“We want to launch a new phase of Customs. We want to go beyond our traditional mandate. This guide is an opportunity for every Customs officer to be part of a project that rewrites the history of our Service,” he declared.
CGC Adeniyi, a seasoned public relations expert and advocate of institutional branding, explained that the document was developed not only to guide internal conduct but also to reflect the core values of integrity, professionalism, and service excellence that the NCS must embody in its daily interactions with citizens, businesses, and global partners.
Citing recent achievements as evidence of ongoing reform, the CGC stated that the Service had consistently exceeded its revenue targets, enhancing its capacity to tackle illicit trade, improve trade facilitation, and contribute to national security.
“In 2023, we recorded a 70 per cent revenue increase. In 2024, that figure rose to 92 per cent. Beyond these numbers, what gladdens me most is that the world is taking note of the impact our initiatives are making,” he said.
He further emphasised that Customs officers must now reposition themselves as law enforcers and credible ambassadors of a responsive and responsible government institution.
“The World Customs Organisation (WCO) expects Customs administrations to champion transparency, inclusivity, and ethical leadership. Our response to this is the deliberate rollout of internal initiatives like the Reputation Guide and our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes,” Adeniyi noted.
He also reaffirmed the NCS’s commitment to inclusive governance and gender representation, referencing the Service’s efforts to empower women and mainstream equity in leadership positions.
CGC Adeniyi also noted that the Service had aligned its community interventions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, investing in education, healthcare, access to water, and the creative economy to leave a tangible legacy in host communities.
He described the unveiling of the Reputation Management Guide as a continuation of this national agenda, an initiative designed to shape institutional culture and improve citizens’ perception of the Service.
“This guide is not just a document but a call to action. It reminds every officer that our image is built not only by what we do but also by how we do it,” he added.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ike Neliaku, who was ably represented by the Vice President of the Institute, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura, commended the Nigeria Customs for taking a bold step in institutionalising reputation management within the agency.
He noted that the unveiling of the handbook was not a symbolic gesture but a practical demonstration that Customs does not treat reputation as a mere buzzword, but as a vital asset that every organisation must nurture to thrive in today’s competitive environment.
Neliaku described the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, as an embodiment of sterling professional reputation, citing his track record of dedication, discipline, and reform-oriented leadership.
He said the decision to launch a formal guide for officer conduct under Adeniyi’s watch reflected the CG’s belief in the power of perception, credibility, and institutional integrity.
The NIPR President further disclosed that in a recent nationwide reputation perception survey conducted by the Institute, the Nigeria Customs Service scored significantly high marks in how it has been discharging its core mandates.
According to him, this positive outcome is an encouraging sign that the agency’s reforms are working internally and resonating with the public.
He expressed confidence that the handbook would better equip Customs officers to represent the Service with a strong sense of responsibility, professionalism, and ethical conduct.
He also assured the NIPR of its continued partnership with the Nigeria Customs in the ongoing effort to reshape Nigeria’s national image through responsible institutional behaviour.
The launch of the Reputation Management Guide marks another important stride in the Customs modernisation journey, reinforcing its commitment to reform, capacity development, and stakeholder confidence.
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Customs

Customs PR officers dominate NCCSC graduation, clinch overall best honours

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter 

The Public Relations Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service has recorded a rare academic feat as two of its officers emerged the top graduating students at the Nigeria Customs Service Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada.

At the graduation ceremony for Senior Course 14 held on Friday,June 26th, 2026,  Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Ridwan Yusuf was named the Overall Best Graduating Student, capping an outstanding performance by winning three additional awards.

His colleague, CSC Nuruddeen Sa’idu, was named the Second Best Graduating Student, completing a remarkable sweep by officers from the Service’s Public Relations Unit.

The double honour highlights the intellectual depth, leadership capacity and professionalism within the Customs Public Relations Unit, demonstrating that its officers excel not only in strategic communication but also in administration, operational management and policy leadership.

Beyond the accolades, the achievement is expected to open another chapter in their careers, as both officers may be retained by the College as Directing Staff, in keeping with the institution’s tradition of engaging its highest-performing graduates to mentor future participants.

If confirmed, the appointments would recognise their exceptional academic and professional abilities while entrusting them with the responsibility of shaping the next generation of Customs leaders, although their absence would be keenly felt within the Public Relations Unit.

The Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Unit congratulated both officers on their outstanding accomplishments and wished them continued success as they assume greater responsibilities in service to the nation.

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Customs

Retirement gale sweeps through Customs as Olomu,Bomodi,Oladeji,Adeola,Adebakin, Niagwan among 1,516 officers set to exit service

Funso OLOJO, Editor

A massive retirement wave is set to rip through the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with no fewer than 1,516 officers — including several top-ranking officers — pencilled down to leave the Service in 2026 and 2027 in what appears to be one of the largest personnel exits in the agency’s recent history.

The impending retirement storm, which cuts across virtually all cadres of the Service, will see officers from the rank of Deputy Comptroller-General down to Customs Assistant II bow out under statutory retirement provisions, leaving a major vacuum in the upper and middle ranks of the paramilitary agency.

Documents obtained by TheEyewitnessnews show that 825 officers are scheduled to retire in 2026, while another 691 are expected to leave in 2027, bringing the total number of exits within the two-year period to 1,516.

The retirement notices are contained in two restricted circulars issued by the Human Resources and Development Department of the Service and signed by the Comptroller, Establishment, A.A. Bazuaye, on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resources and Development.
The first circular, No. HRD/2025/048 dated September 19, 2025, contains what the Service described as the final list of 825 officers billed to retire in 2026.

A breakdown of the 2026 list shows that the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre accounts for the highest number of exits with 285 officers, followed by the Superintendent of Customs cadre with 226 officers.

Other cadres affected in the 2026 retirement exercise are Assistant Superintendent of Customs I with 64 officers; Chief Customs Officer, 53; Deputy Customs Officer, 51; Assistant Customs Officer, 46; Chief Superintendent of Customs, 61; Inspector of Customs, eight; Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, 10; Customs Assistant I, one; Customs Assistant II, two; Assistant Comptroller-General, 13; and Deputy Comptroller-General, five.

A second circular, No. HRD/2026/020 dated May 26, 2026, forwarded a draft list of 691 officers due for statutory retirement in 2027.

The 2027 retirement schedule shows that the Superintendent of Customs cadre will record the highest number of exits with 200 officers, followed by the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre with 193 officers.

Others on the 2027 list are Deputy Customs Officer, 81; Chief Superintendent of Customs, 68; Assistant Customs Officer, 57; Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, 39; Chief Customs Officer, 38; Assistant Superintendent of Customs II, four; Customs Assistant I, four; Customs Assistant II, four; Inspector of Customs, two; and Assistant Comptroller-General, four.

Both circulars directed all affected officers to proceed on mandatory pre-retirement leave in line with Public Service Rule 100238 and Federal Government Circular No. 63216/S.1/X/T; CR 1/2001/5 of March 20, 2001.

The directive stated that all officers due for retirement must disengage from active service and proceed on three months’ pre-retirement leave ahead of their effective retirement dates, while also forwarding their three-month pre-retirement notices to the Comptroller-General of Customs.

Among the senior officers affected in the 2026 retirement exercise are Deputy Comptrollers-General Omale (SVC No. 41148), who retired on June 7, 2026; Nnadi (SVC No. 43193), whose retirement took effect on March 3, 2026; Chiroma (SVC No. 42988), who is due to retire on September 23, 2026; and Adeola MRS (SVC No. 42972) and Niagwan (SVC No. 41524), both scheduled to retire on December 23, 2026.

Among the Assistant Comptrollers-General on the 2026 retirement list are Egwuh (SVC No. 38991), who retired on March 14, 2026; Umoh (SVC No. 41351), who exited the Service on February 2, 2026; Mohammed (SVC Nos. 41394 and 41395), both due to retire on June 24, 2026; and Abe (SVC No. 41110), whose retirement date is August 21, 2026.

Others listed for retirement include Olomu (SVC No. 41145), Olaniyan (SVC No. 41197), Yusuf (SVC No. 41257), Oladeji (SVC No. 41308) and Gaji (SVC No. 41328), all scheduled to retire on September 24, 2026.
Also on the list are Adebakin (SVC No. 41670) and Bomodi (SVC No. 42758), both due for retirement on September 23, 2026, as well as Nyam (SVC No. 40428) and Abubakar (SVC No. 40139), whose retirement dates are October 1, 2026, among others.

In the 2027 circular, the Service opened a window for complaints and corrections, directing that any observed error, omission or legitimate complaint arising from the attached retirement list should be forwarded to the office of the Deputy Comptroller-General, Human Resources and Development, on or before July 31, 2026.

To ensure the notices get to all affected officers, Zonal Coordinators, Area Controllers and Unit Heads were directed to circulate the retirement lists across commands and formations.

But beyond the raw figures, the sweeping retirement exercise has exposed a deeper structural imbalance in the Service.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Abejide Leke Joseph, traced the development to a prolonged recruitment gap and years of promotion stagnation in the Nigeria Customs Service.

According to him, a 16-year period of non-recruitment created an unusual personnel bulge, as officers within the 41000, 42000 and 43000 service number brackets rose through the ranks almost at the same pace and now find themselves hitting retirement age or service limits within the same window.

The result, he explained, is a top-heavy structure in which a large number of officers now occupy similar seniority levels and are due to leave almost simultaneously.
Abejide said the retirement of more than 1,500 officers should not be misconstrued as part of any succession plot within the Customs hierarchy, insisting that the exercise is a routine and legally mandated process under Public Service Rule 100238.

The development is coming against the backdrop of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a final six-month tenure extension for the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, effectively keeping him in office until February 2027.
The Presidency announced on Friday that Adeniyi’s tenure, earlier scheduled to expire on August 1, 2026, had been extended by another six months to enable him complete key reforms in the Service.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said the extension would allow the Customs boss to consolidate the implementation of the National Single Window project and also ensure an orderly succession process in the Service.

More significantly, the statement made it clear that Adeniyi would work with the Nigeria Customs Service Board during the transition period to oversee critical personnel decisions, including the promotion of eligible officers to the rank of Comptroller and the compulsory retirement of officers who have attained 60 years of age or put in 35 years in service.

That presidential directive effectively places Adeniyi at the centre of one of the most consequential personnel transitions in the recent history of the Nigeria Customs Service — a transition that will shape not only the next generation of Customs leadership, but also the internal balance of power within the Service.

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Customs

Excitement as President Tinubu Extends CGC Adeniyi’s Tenure by Six Months

Funso OLOJO, Editor

A wave of excitement swept through the maritime industry following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval of a six-month extension of the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi.

In a statement issued on June 19th, 2026, and signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Tinubu said the extension was necessary to enable Adeniyi to consolidate ongoing reforms, particularly the implementation of the National Single Window project, while also ensuring an orderly succession process within the service.

According to the Presidency, Adeniyi’s current tenure was due to expire on August 1st, 2026.

The six-month extension will now keep him in office until February 2027.

During the transition period, Adeniyi is expected to work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service Board to oversee the promotion of qualified officers to the rank of Comptroller of Customs and facilitate the compulsory retirement of officers who have attained the statutory retirement age of 60 years or completed 35 years in service.

Adeniyi joined the Nigeria Customs Service after graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University in the late 1980s.

He steadily rose through the ranks, becoming a Deputy Comptroller in 2012, Comptroller in 2017, Assistant Comptroller-General in 2020, and Acting Deputy Comptroller-General in January 2023 before being appointed Comptroller-General by President Tinubu in June 2023.

Maritime stakeholders who welcomed the development described the extension as an opportunity for the Customs boss to complete the far-reaching reforms he initiated within the service.

One freight forwarder, who preferred anonymity, described the decision as a positive development.

“This is a welcome development because it will enable the Comptroller-General to complete the reforms he has started in the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.

“His tenure has been a watershed in the history of the NCS.

“The service has witnessed unprecedented transformation in its operations, revenue generation, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling activities.

“Granting him an extension is a well-thought-out administrative decision by President Tinubu to allow him to complete these achievements.”

Another stakeholder said the extension reflects the confidence of the Presidency in Adeniyi’s leadership.

“The tenure extension is a clear endorsement of Adeniyi’s transformative leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service and the progress recorded under his administration,” the stakeholder remarked.

Industry observers believe the extension will provide continuity for ongoing modernization initiatives and help sustain the momentum of reforms aimed at enhancing trade facilitation, revenue collection, and border security.

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