The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has promoted its National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, for the second time in less than a year, marking another major step in a career that has continued to rise with remarkable speed.
Maiwada, who was elevated to the rank of Assistant Comptroller in December 2024, has now been promoted to Deputy Comptroller of Customs as part of a sweeping round of senior appointments and special promotions approved by the Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB).
The Board reached its decisions at its 64th regular meeting held on Tuesday, 25 November, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
The meeting produced a series of high-level postings designed to strengthen leadership, enhance operational efficiency and solidify succession planning within the service.
In one of the most significant announcements, five senior officers were elevated to the rank of Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs.
The new DCGs are Baba Imam from the North-East, Isah Umar and Tijjani Abe from the North-West, Timi Bomodi from the South-South and Oluyomi Adebakin from the South-West.
Their appointments come at a time of strategic transition, following the retirement of several top officers, and are intended to reinforce the Service’s command structure across critical zones.
Further deepening its leadership pool, the Board also approved the appointment of eight new Assistant Comptroller-Generals. Those promoted include C.G. Ogbonna from the South-East, I. Abba-Aji from the North-East, G.M. Haruna and E.J. Edelduok from the South-South, G. Gaura and I. Isyaku from the North-West, M.S. Shuaibu from the North-Central and M.D. Malah from the North-East.
The Board described the appointments as reflective of its continued emphasis on improved policy implementation, strengthened compliance oversight and enhanced administrative and operational coherence.
Beyond the senior leadership cadre, the Board also rewarded outstanding performance through its special promotion category, reserved for officers whose contributions have positively influenced revenue generation, security operations and overall service delivery.
Among those honoured were A.C. Fanyam and G.M. Shidali, both elevated to Comptroller of Customs; S. Omofoma, O.A. Oladepo, A.Y. Musa, A. Ogboru and A.A. Maiwada, all promoted to Deputy Comptroller of Customs; C.N. Essien and H. Aliyu, promoted to Assistant Comptroller; and A.S. Shofadekan, who rose to Deputy Superintendent of Customs.
The Board emphasised that these appointments and promotions form part of a broader reform effort aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, boosting morale and ensuring the Service remains agile and responsive to the evolving demands of trade facilitation, revenue protection and national security.