President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the extension of service for the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, extending his tenure by an additional one year. This decision, according to credible sources within the presidency, reflects the administration’s confidence in Adeniyi’s leadership and its determination to consolidate the ongoing reforms within the Customs Service.
Adeniyi, who was officially confirmed as Comptroller-General of Customs in October 2023 after serving in an acting capacity, has been instrumental in repositioning the Service through improved revenue generation, technological innovation, and stronger anti-smuggling strategies. His tenure has also been marked by enhanced inter-agency collaboration and efforts to align Nigeria’s customs operations with international standards.
The extension, which was approved as Adeniyi approached the statutory retirement age, is seen as a strategic move to maintain momentum in the Service’s reform initiatives. Under his watch, the NCS recorded a historic revenue performance in the first half of 2024, crossing the N2 trillion mark in collections, a feat widely acknowledged as a reflection of better compliance, digitisation of processes, and effective enforcement.
Presidency insiders disclosed to KIIN360 that the decision to extend his tenure followed recommendations from key stakeholders within the finance and trade sectors, who noted his performance and ongoing institutional transformation as reasons to retain his leadership beyond the initial timeframe.
Adeniyi, a career customs officer with over three decades of experience, is also credited with strengthening Nigeria’s border security architecture and fostering better trade facilitation practices in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) objectives. His leadership style, which combines operational efficiency with stakeholder engagement, has earned him both local and international recognition.
This one-year extension is expected to allow him to complete critical reforms, including the rollout of the Nigeria Customs Modernisation Project and the enhancement of non-oil revenue collection through tightened border controls and simplified trade procedures.
With this development, President Tinubu reinforces his administration’s resolve to prioritise continuity and performance in key government institutions, especially those central to economic recovery and national development.
