From all indications, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Bashir Adeniyi’s enlistment into the Service has all the trappings of the divine, his over three decades sojourn in the Nigeria Customs is filled with memorable moments of accomplishments from when he was National Public Relations Officer (NPRO) to his ascension to the helm of affairs, he achieves unprecedented milestones which good-spirited Nigerians are celebrating
By Edu Abade
Unlike his immediate predecessor, Col. Hameed Ali, who was imported from the ranks of retired military officers to head the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the appointment of Adewale Bashir Adeniyi as Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) in 2023, has, again, exposed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a man who is good at spotting talents and bringing out the best leaders in them.
It is almost impossible to determine if the Nigeria Customs Service would have achieved much under the leadership of another experienced officer as Adeniyi has done in the last one year. On all fronts and from all standards, he has done better than anticipated, even as some of his predecessors and colleagues can testify.
Under Adeniyi’s watch, the Nigeria Customs’ penchant for surveillance has resulted in several seizures of high volume arms and ammunition at various commands that would have exacerbated the insecurity in the country, pharmaceutical items and narcotics that would have worsened drug addiction among Nigeria youths, as well as petroleum products and several prohibited items that would have amounted to severe economic sabotage.
Easily the most celebrated Customs boss in decades, Adeniyi has demonstrated an uncommon leadership in the Service to the envy of most other government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), thanks to his public relations background of many decades.
Even the media is agog with his achievements and performance in the last one year, to the extent that hardly a day passes without reading or stumbling on one accomplishment or the other such that from the Abuja headquarters of the NCS to the various commands, there is always one event or activity-and sometimes several in a day across the country.
One could not have expected less from the CGC, having honed his skills while serving several Comptrollers-General as National Public Relations Officer (NPRO), including Ahmed Mustapha, Buba Gyang, the late Abudulahi Inde Dikko and Hameed Ali before he was redeployed in 2015.
His successes and performance has elicited so much hope and encouragement in the current crop of Public Relations Officers at various commands of the Service to the extent that at a forum, PRO of the Lekki Free Zone, Abulahhi Lagos, said: “CGC Adeniyi’s ascension to the helm of NCS is a huge encouragement and it gives us hope that some of us could make it that far in future.”
Speaking at this year’s ComptrollerGeneral of Customs Conference with the theme: Nigeria Customs Service: Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose in Abuja on November 13, 2024, Adeniyi said: A year ago, we made bold commitments that would reshape our engagement with stakeholders in 2024.
“The Continental Declaration of 2023 marked a turning point in our approach to partnership-not just a document of promises, but a blueprint for transformation. Today …, I stand before you to demonstrate how those commitments have evolved into tangible achievements.
“Our pledge was comprehensive and ambitious: modernizing our processes through a one-stop solution for cargo alerts, revolutionizing our Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, streamlining examination procedures, and embracing automation for enhanced efficiency.
“We committed to reimagining our free trade zone operations, elevating cargo integrity standards, and expanding our scanning capabilities. Above all, we promised to usher in a new era of customs operations -one built on transparency, efficiency and genuine collaboration with our partners.”
He explained that the successful implementation of the measures and their expansion beyond the NCS’ our initial commitments, has been possible through what he described as ‘a powerful coalition of support’ from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the strategic guidance of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Chairman of the Nigeria Customs Service Board, Wale Edun; the commitment of the Nigeria Customs Service Management team and dedicated officers and men.
Adeniyi also celebrated the constructive engagement of stakeholders including most government ministries, agencies and departments, adding: “Together, we have created a more business-friendly trading environment that aligns with President Tinubu’s economic transformation agenda while strengthening our capacity to protect Nigerian citizens from illicit trade.”
“In pursuing these objectives, we expanded the frontiers of our engagement both within and beyond Nigeria’s borders. This past year has seen us not only consolidating existing partnerships but also forging new alliances crucial to our mission. We have deliberately repositioned the Nigeria Customs Service brand, emphasizing our commitment to trade facilitation and demonstrating a more nuanced application of our authority in executing our statutory responsibilities.
“Through extensive stakeholder enlightenment programs, we have opened windows into our operations, fostering better understanding of our procedures and requirements. This renewed approach to partnership has led to the strengthening of existing agreements and the establishment of new ones, all aimed at creating a more collaborative and efficient trading environment.”
Beaming with confidence and a rare sense of accomplishment, he disclosed that a day before the conference, on November 12, 2024, the Nigeria Customs Service hit its 2024 revenue target of NGN 5.07 trillion, collecting NGN 5,079,455,088,194.38 with over a month remaining in the fiscal year, maintaining that revenue performance, which is projected to exceed the target by 10 percent “validates our partnership-driven approach to revenue collection and trade facilitation.
“The achievement is not merely about numbers; it demonstrates how enhanced stakeholder collaboration, improved processes, and modernized systems can deliver tangible results for our nation’s economy.”
The NCS helmsman also pointed out that the Service’s commitment to trade facilitation has garnered significant recognition and yielded measurable results as its ranking in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) jumped 33 points upward, placing us among the top five agencies in trade facilitation and a further reflection of the impact of reform initiatives.
“This improvement goes beyond metrics-it represents real changes in how we facilitate trade across borders. We have expanded our focus beyond traditional import operations to actively support exporters and nurture small and medium scale enterprises.
“The AfCFTA Secretariat’s recognition of our innovative approaches led to an invitation to share Nigeria’s experience at the prestigious Biashara Afrika forum in Kigali last month. This recognition culminated in a historic milestone-Nigeria’s first shipment under the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, marking our country’s practical commitment to continental trade integration,” he stated.
Adeniyi further explained that the momentum of the NCS modernization initiatives continues to build, yielding immediate benefits for all stakeholders, insisting that robust support and collaboration, the Service has successfully implemented several key reforms.
“Our Authorised Economic Operators (AEO) scheme now has six beneficiaries in its pilot phase, carefully selected based on stringent compliance criteria. The Advanced Ruling system has processed 31 requests, with 12 rulings issued-notably, 75 percent of these were completed in October following our stakeholder sensitization efforts.
“Additionally, the introduction of 24-hour cargo clearance at major ports has significantly reduced dwell time; the completion of Nigeria’s first Time Release Study (TRS) now provides us with empirical data to measure and improve our efficiency; our enhanced risk management systems are streamlining operations; and the deployment of non-intrusive inspection equipment is accelerating cargo examination while maintaining robust controls.”
He told his audience that in fulfilling its enforcement mandate, the Service achieved unprecedented success in protecting Nigerian citizens and the economy, saying that the scale of its intervention is reflected in seizures valued at N28.1 billion and counting in 2024.
“An important moment in our enforcement strategy was the declaration of a state of emergency at our major ports, which led to the interception of 48 containers of illicit pharmaceutical items and narcotics, significantly disrupting the flow of potentially harmful products. Through strategic operations, we continue to intercept and seize prohibited items that pose direct threats to public health and safety.
“Our enforcement activities have been particularly impactful in addressing items that could worsen our current economic challenges. A standout example is Operation Whirlwind, launched in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
“This joint initiative to combat petroleum product smuggling demonstrates how inter-agency cooperation can effectively protect our national resources and economic stability. The success of these operations underscores a crucial lesson: when agencies work together with shared purpose, we multiply our effectiveness in safeguarding national interests.
“In the spirit of transparency, we must acknowledge the challenges that have tested our resolve this year. A primary concern has been the misconception of our role amid monetary policy changes, where some stakeholders viewed our actions as trade-restrictive rather than recognizing our enhanced commitment to trade facilitation.
“Additionally, we continue to grapple with widespread noncompliance among the larger population of traders who, though numerous, contribute relatively smaller portions to our trade volumes, values, and revenue. These external challenges have required us to intensify our stakeholder engagement and compliance initiatives.
“A significant internal challenge we must address transparently is the unprecedented rate of leadership transitions within our Service. The statistics tell a compelling story: we saw 60 percent of our management team exit in 2022, 36 percent in 2023, and this year, we will experience a 76 percent change in our management composition.
“With projections indicating another 40 percent of our management staff retiring in 2024, we recognize the urgent need for strategic intervention. In response, we have launched an ambitious Human Resource Development Plan that addresses both immediate and long-term needs. This includes accelerated career progression opportunities for deserving officers, ensuring that talent and dedication are appropriately rewarded.
“Most significantly, we are making a historic investment in human capital infrastructure through the establishment of a Customs University-a testament to our commitment to building a knowledgedriven service. These initiatives, aligned with the World Customs Organization’s focus on youth leadership development, complement our comprehensive talent management program that identifies and prepares promising officers for leadership roles, ensuring the Service’s continued stability and effectiveness,” his address reads.
In his address at the conference, President Tinubu, who commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its milestones under Adeniyi, declared that sustained economic transformation requires commitment, innovation and adaptation to emerging global trends, insisting that as a country bent on creating a resilient and prosperous economy, his administration remains determined to deepen its integration into global value chains and strengthen its position as a reliable trading partner.
Tinubu, who was represented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, maintained that as a key facilitator of international trade and guardian of the nation’s borders, the Nigeria Customs will continue to play a fundamental role in advancing national economic objectives.
The President also applauded the NCS for the sustained efforts at revenue generation and trade facilitation in the last one year, stressing that the success of his administration’s reform agenda significantly depends on the NCS’s ability to balance trade facilitation with regulatory compliance while fostering meaningful partnerships across board.
His words: “Sixteen months ago, my administration began with a clear and unwavering vision- to strengthen Nigeria’s economic base and deliver positive growth and development for the benefit of all Nigerians. This vision remains unchanged.
“In pursuing this vision, we have built upon existing foundations while introducing necessary reforms to adapt to our evolving economic realities. Our focus has been on strengthening what works, refining what needs improvement, and introducing new initiatives where gaps exist.
“We recognized that certain economic policies, though useful in their time, needed to be realigned with current global economic dynamics to better serve our national interests and the wellbeing of all Nigerians.”
The President explained that while building on the administration’s foundational reforms, the Federal Government has expanded its focus to strengthen Nigeria’s position in global trade and investment.
“Through strategic initiatives, we are enhancing trade facilitation, modernizing our port infrastructure and streamlining business processes to reduce barriers to trade. Our commitment to creating an enabling business environment has resonated with the international investment community.
“The confidence in our economy is reflected in the significant surge in foreign direct investments, which has exceeded $30 billion in the past year. This achievement demonstrates that our policies are yielding positive results, making Nigeria increasingly attractive for both domestic and international investors. More importantly, these improvements are creating new opportunities for Nigerian businesses to participate more actively in global trade,” he stated.
As a further proof of his leadership acumen, Adeniyi celebrated outstanding controllers of various commands in different categories at the maiden Comptroller-General of Customs Awards on November 29, 2024, after postponing the event from Friday, November 15, 2024 due to the funeral rites of the Late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General … Lagbaja.
“Despite our challenging operating environment, or perhaps because of it, it is crucial that we recognize and reward outstanding performance. It will be an evening that promises to be both significant and entertaining,” he stressed.
It indeed turned to be a memorable celebration of achievements and dedication to service for both officers of the service and its stakeholders.
