The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced the promotion of 4,291 senior officers and the appointment of one Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) and eight Assistant Comptrollers General (ACGs) as part of a comprehensive restructuring effort to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery. These changes were approved by the NCS Board, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
In addition to the promotions, six senior officers due for retirement in December 2024 have been granted a 12-month service extension. This move aims to preserve institutional knowledge and ensure operational continuity amid high management turnover rates.
The newly appointed management team includes DCG S. Chiroma (North-East) and ACGs Z.M. Gaji (North-East), O.A. Adebakin (South-West), G.M. Omale (North-Central), M.S. Yusuf (North-Central), D.A. Nnadi (South-East), H.K. Ejibunu (North-Central), and D. Hassan (North-East). These appointments fill vacancies created by retirements and align with the Federal Character Policy as outlined in the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, ensuring inclusivity and institutional balance.
The promotion of 4,291 officers reflects outstanding performance during the 2024 promotion exercise. Among those elevated are Deputy Comptrollers promoted to Customs Comptrollers, Assistant Comptrollers advanced to Deputy Comptrollers, and numerous officers moving up across various ranks. Special recognition was given to 16 officers for their exceptional performance through special promotions. Additionally, the late Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Etop Andrew Essien, who passed away during a presentation before the National Assembly House Committee on Public Accounts, was honoured with a posthumous promotion in recognition of his invaluable contributions.
As part of ongoing reforms, the NCS Board has restructured the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Unit, transferring it from the Tariff and Trade Department to the Office of the Comptroller General. The PCA Unit, now headed by an Assistant Comptroller General, has been elevated in status to strengthen oversight, increase efficiency, and align with global best practices in administrative processes.
To ensure operational continuity, six officers representing the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria have been granted a 12-month service extension. These include Assistant Comptrollers-General B. Imam (North-East), I.G. Umar (North-West), and K.C. Egwu (South-East), alongside Comptrollers F. Abdulqadri (North-Central), M.T. Awe (South-West), and O.F. Ojiefor (South-South).
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, congratulated all newly promoted, appointed, and retained officers, urging them to uphold the NCS’s core mandates and pursue excellence. He also extended his gratitude to the Minister of Finance for ensuring the timely completion of the 2024 promotion cycle and wished all NCS personnel a joyful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
These promotions, appointments, and reforms mark a significant milestone for the NCS, reinforcing its commitment to inclusivity, operational excellence, and global best practices.
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