Features
Oxford-trained tech wizkid, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh shines in London with Forbes and EuroKnowledge award
Adebayo Obajemu
We live in a digital era where the spotlight often flickers over fleeting trends and hollow titles and very little authenticity.
However, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, Group Chief Executive Officer of Konga Group, stands tall as a refreshing exception, a beacon of genuine leadership.
He is a young visioner whose quiet brilliance and transformational leadership are rewriting Africa’s digital story.
At just under 30, this Oxford-trained entrepreneur has accomplished what even seasoned business titans dream of — and now, the world has taken note.
At the iconic House of Lords, London, Prince Ekeh made history as the youngest African ever to receive two global honours in one night — the Forbes Best of Africa E-Commerce Leadership Award 2025 and the Distinguished EuroKnowledge Award for Emerging Leadership in Digital Transformation.
The prestigious ceremony, attended by an elite audience of global policymakers, innovators, and business leaders, was a defining moment not only for the young Nigerian but for an entire continent watching one of its brightest sons rise to the global stage.
Forbes and EuroKnowledge described his recognition as “a celebration of visionary courage and transformative impact,” honouring a leader who, at a remarkably young age, has built enduring institutions that power Africa’s digital economy.
Prince Ekeh’s journey, as remarkable as it is inspiring, began long before the bright lights of global acclaim.
Born into a family steeped in innovation and enterprise, Nnamdi is the first son of Leo Stan Ekeh, Africa’s foremost disruptive digital entrepreneur and founder of Zinox Group, and Lady Chioma Ekeh, a chartered accountant, and CEO of TD Africa, the continent’s largest tech distribution company.
From an early age, he imbibed the family’s values of discipline, innovation, and social responsibility, qualities that would later define his leadership style.
His lineage reflects a deep-rooted entrepreneurial heritage: his great-grandfather, Mazi Ihentuge Ekeh, was one of the most prominent merchants in Onitsha, while his grandmother, a British-trained entrepreneur, designed the first galvanized waste bins used in Nigeria under the “Operation Clean and Green” initiative.
But it is Nnamdi’s personal story that truly sets him apart.
At just 19, while studying at the University of Lancaster, he conceived Yudala, Africa’s first composite e-commerce platform.
It was a bold, technology-driven venture that would employ hundreds of young Nigerians.
After years of learning the ropes within the Zinox Group, he led the strategic acquisition of Konga from global investors, Naspers and Kinnevik in 2018.
The merger of Konga and Yudala under his leadership birthed Africa’s first true omnichannel e-commerce powerhouse, combining the convenience of digital retail with the trust of physical stores.
Today, Konga stands as a pillar of innovation, spanning fintech (KongaPay), logistics (Konga Logistics), healthcare (Konga Health), and travel (Konga Travel and Tours).
The company serves over four million customers and about two million merchants; an ecosystem that reflects Ekeh’s belief in what he calls “commercial scale with social soul.”
It was this belief that echoed through his electrifying keynote speech at the House of Lords.
Speaking before an audience that included international business magnates, ministers, and diplomats, he reflected on Africa’s entrepreneurial journey, urging leaders to build institutions that solve real problems and create lasting social impact.
“When we acquired Konga from Naspers and Kinnevik,” he said, “we chose the harder path, which was to build the rails of digital commerce for Nigeria and, ultimately, for Africa.
” Because entrepreneurship that truly changes lives must solve real problems, not just build pretty apps.”
He continued, “Every package delivered isn’t just commerce; it’s connection. A small business in Enugu selling to a customer in Kano for the first time.
” That’s what scalable social impact looks like; technology turning potential into prosperity.”
The powerful delivery earned him a standing ovation.
His words were eloquent, purposeful, and filled with conviction, and they painted a portrait of a leader not driven by profit alone, but by impact.
It was a reminder that Africa’s next growth story lies in young innovators who blend intellect with empathy, courage with humility, and technology with humanity.
Among the dignitaries present at the high-profile event were the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani; Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris; NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye; Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, wife of the Kwara State Governor; as well as international icons such as Reebok Co-founder Joe Foster and Dragons’ Den star, Richard Faileigh, both of whom were also honoured.
With this latest global recognition, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh has once again affirmed that Africa’s future is not a faraway dream, it is already unfolding.
A product of legacy, discipline, and vision, he embodies the promise of a continent ready to shape its destiny.
In the grand halls of the House of Lords, history was not just made — it was redefined.
And at its centre stood a young Nigerian whose story proves that greatness is not a matter of age, but of purpose.
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Economy
Nigeria’s Oil exports face threat as US- Israel attack on Iran escalates, Strait of Hormuz blockade imminent
Funso OLOJO, with agency report.
On Saturday, February 28th, 2026, the whole world woke to the shocking news of the death of the the Supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khomenei, in a surprise attack launched by the joint forces of the United States of America(USA) and the State of Israel.
Apart from the killing of Khomenei, key figures on the Iranian military top hierarchy, were also assassinated, leaving the Iranian military command decapitated.
The attack and the killing of its Supreme leader has been met with swift relatiatory attacks by Iran on Israel and the military bases of the US in the Gulf States of Oman, Saudi- Arabian, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan.
However, the attack have begun to have spiral effects on the world economy as the Houthis, a fundamentalist group in the Middle East with sympathy for the Iranian cause, has threatened to attack vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
About 20-30 percent of global oil and gas supplies are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz.
Where is the Strait of Hormuz?
The Strait of Hormuz is located between Oman and the UAE on one side and Iran on the other.
It links the Arabian/Persian Gulf, or just the Gulf, with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea beyond.
It is 33km (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just 3km (2 miles) wide in either direction, making it vulnerable to attack.
Despite its narrow width, the channel accommodates the world’s largest crude carriers.
Major oil and gas exporters in the Middle East rely on it to move supplies to international markets, while importing nations depend on its uninterrupted operation.
How much oil and gas pass through the strait?
According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), about 20 million barrels of oil, worth about $500bn in annual global energy trade, transited through the Strait of Hormuz each day in 2024.The crude oil passing through the strait originates from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The strait also plays a critical role in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade.
According to the EIA, in 2024, roughly a fifth of global LNG shipments moved through the corridor, with Qatar accounting for the vast majority of those volumes.
Analysts warned of a spike in global oil prices after Iranian officials hinted at shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime routes in the world.
On Saturday, February 28th, 2026, an official from the European Union told the Reuters news agency that vessels crossing the strait have been receiving very high frequency (VHF) transmissions from Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), saying “no ship is allowed to pass the Strait of Hormuz”.However, the EU official added, Iran has not officially closed the strait.
Instead, several tanker owners have suspended oil and gas shipments through the strait amid the ongoing conflict in the region.
“Our ships will stay put for several days,” a top executive at a major trading desk told Reuters on condition of anonymity. Countries like Greece have also advised their vessels to avoid transiting through the waterway.
Any instability in this important maritime route could rattle economic stability worldwide.
Implications on Nigeria of disruption of ship movement in the Strait of Hormuz.
Nigeria’s economy is basically dependent on its crude oil. It account for more than 80 percent of its revenue earnings through export sales and the funding of its annual budget is significantly based on the oil sale receipts.
Disruptions in the movement of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz will therefore have a major adverse effect on its economy and this will affect the sales of its crude oil to its customers in Europe, Asia and Middle East.
Also, the development may disrupt the relative stability in the domestic prices of petroleum products as the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz may escalate the prices of crude oil in the international market.
So what is the Strait of Hormuz, and how will its closure impact oil prices?
The strait handles both oil and gas exports and imports.
Kuwait and the UAE import supplies sourced outside the Gulf, including shipments from the United States and West Africa.
The EIA estimated that in 2024, 84 percent of crude oil and condensate shipments transiting the strait headed to Asian markets.
A similar pattern appears in the gas trade, with 83 percent of LNG volumes moving through the Strait of Hormuz destined for Asian destinations.
China, India, Japan and South Korea accounted for a combined 69 percent intake of all crude oil and condensate flows through the strait last year. Their factories, transport networks and power grids depend on uninterrupted Gulf energy.
A spike in oil prices will impact countries such as China, India and several Southeast Asian nations.
How would the Strait’s closure impact oil prices?
According to Iranian state media, the country’s Supreme National Security Council must make the final decision to close the strait, and it has to be ratified by the government.But energy traders have been on high alert in recent weeks amid escalating tensions in the region – home to one of the largest reserves of oil and gas in the world.
Muyu Xu, senior crude oil analyst at Kpler, told reporters that since the war began on Saturday, there has been a sharp drop in vessel traffic through the strait.
“At the same time, the number of vessels idling on either side – in the Gulf of Oman and the Gulf – has surged, as shipowners grow increasingly concerned about maritime security risks following Tehran’s warning of a potential navigation closure,” he said.
“The Strait of Hormuz is critical to the global energy market, as roughly 30 percent of the world’s seaborne crude oil transits the waterway.
” In addition, nearly 20 percent of global jet fuel and about 16 percent of gasoline and naphtha flows also pass through the Strait,” Muyu said.
“On Sunday, March 1st, 2026, an oil tanker was struck off the coast of Oman, signalling a clear escalation of the conflict and a shift in targets from purely military facilities to energy assets.”
Shipping data showed that at least 150 tankers, including crude oil and liquefied natural gas vessels, have dropped anchor in open Gulf waters beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
The tankers were clustered in open waters off the coasts of major Gulf oil producers, including Iraq and Saudi Arabia, as well as LNG giant Qatar, according to the Reuters news agency estimates based on ship-tracking data from the MarineTraffic platform.
Moreover, on Sunday, March 1st, 2026,the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it is aware of “significant military activity” in the Strait and said it has received a report of an incident two nautical miles north of Oman’s Kumzar, located in the Strait of Hormuz.
Muyu from Kpler said a broad range of energy infrastructure is now under threat. “This is expected to sharply intensify the oil price rally and could keep prices elevated for a sustained period, potentially longer than during last June’s conflict.”
Ali Vaez, director of the Iran project at the International Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera, “Closure of the Strait of Hormuz would disrupt roughly a fifth of globally traded oil overnight – and prices wouldn’t just spike, they would gap violently upward on fear alone.”
“The shock would reverberate far beyond energy markets, tightening financial conditions, fuelling inflation, and pushing fragile economies closer to recession in a matter of weeks,” he added.
When the US and Israel bombed Iran last June, there was no direct disruption to maritime activity in the region.
What does it mean for the global economy?
Any disruption to energy flows through Hormuz will also impact the global economy, driving up fuel and factory costs.Hamad Hussain, a climate and commodities economist at the United Kingdom-based firm Capital Economics, said that for the global economy, a sustained rise in oil prices would add upward pressure to inflation.
“If crude oil prices were to rise to $100 per barrel and remain at those levels for a while, that could add 0.6-0.7 percent to global inflation,” he said, noting that this would also lead to an increase in natural gas prices.
“This could slow the pace of monetary easing by major central banks, particularly in emerging markets, where policymakers tend to be more sensitive to swings in commodity prices,” he added.
Customs
Much Ado about Adeniyi’s tenure extension
Funso OLOJO
A certain ethnic bigot who is hiding under a pseudo name, Jimoh Olusegun, is pushing an ethnic agenda to discredit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his approval of tenure extension for the current CGC Adeniyi.
In his warped narrative, he claimed that the tenure extension of Adeniyi by President Tinubu has robbed DCG Nwafor of the chance to succeed Adeniyi this year as the next in rank.
But the tenure extension of Adeniyi, according to him, has scuttled the chances of Igbo to produce Customs CG.
But the purveyor of this puerile narrative, who is obviously hiding under a borrowed robe of identity theft to act a script written by a larger group of irredentists, was evidently ignorant of the succession procedure in the Customs.
I will reproduce what Mr Chudi Philipson, a respected Igbo Customs broker, said of the divisive agenda being bandied about by this faceless group
“I have seen this post over and over in the past day. The truth is I do not believe that DCG BU Nwafor was hoping to become CG Customs after Adeniyi.
The practice is that the DCGs leave with the CG. There is only two instances I know where a DCG became CG in the last 20 years.
In 2004, Aliyu Mustapha was succeeded by DCG Ogungbemile briefly before the appointment of Elder Jacob Buba, an Assistant Comptroller General.
When Ahmed Kojoli left in 2008, DCG Nwadialo took over for few months before the appointment of Abdulahi Dikko as CG.
The truth is that the appointment of Customs CG is usually from the rank of Assistant Comptroller General.
DCG BU Nwafor must count herself lucky because with the extension of the term of the CGG, most of the DCGs, BU Nwafor included ,will continue to work with him rather than instant retirement.
I think it will be in the best interest of DCG BU Nwafor to distance herself from this campaign of calumny against the Federal Government.
There are procedures for the appointment of Customs CG and BU Nwafor is aware of that.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service got same tenure extension and no hell was let loose.
In the past, President Obasanjo extended the term of IGP Ehindero.”, Philipson has lectured.
With this informed opinion of Mr Philipson, I hope the sponsors of this campaign of calumny will channel their energies into more productive ventures.
This is because the intelligent analysis of Mr Philipson has not only punched holes in their game plan but has exposed their ignorance of the succession procedure in the Customs.
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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