Agency News
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a final six-month extension of the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, to enable him to consolidate ongoing reforms and facilitate a smooth leadership transition within the service.
The extension, announced in a State House statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, will take effect after the expiration of Adeniyi’s current tenure on August 1, 2026, and will run until February 2027.
According to the statement, the extension is aimed at allowing the Customs chief to complete the implementation of the National Single Window initiative, a key government reform designed to streamline trade processes and improve efficiency in revenue collection and border management.
The Presidency also said the extension would ensure an orderly succession process within the Nigeria Customs Service.
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During the transition period, Adeniyi will work closely with the Nigeria Customs Service Board to oversee the promotion of qualified officers to the rank of Comptroller of Customs, while also ensuring the compulsory retirement of officers who have either attained the age of 60 or completed 35 years in service.
Adeniyi, a seasoned customs officer, joined the Nigeria Customs Service after graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University in the late 1980s.
Over the years, he rose steadily through the ranks, becoming a Deputy Comptroller in 2012, Comptroller in 2017, and Assistant Comptroller-General in 2020. He was appointed Acting Deputy Comptroller-General in January 2023 before President Tinubu named him Comptroller-General of Customs in June 2023.
The latest extension is expected to provide continuity for ongoing reforms within the Customs Service while preparing the institution for a seamless change of leadership at the expiration of Adeniyi’s tenure in February 2027.
