Customs Service Leadership Faces Allegations of Manipulation

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved a six-month extension of Adewale Adeniyi's tenure as Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service to enable him to consolidate the implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) project. This extension is intended to ensure an orderly success process within the service.

However, concerns have arisen regarding alleged attempts by certain interests, including Leke Joseph Abejid, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, to influence leadership transitions within the service. Reports indicate that Abejid, alongside retired Deputy Comptroller Generals Hussein Ejibunu and Olugboyega Peter, sought to manipulate the retirement and appointment processes of senior officers.

The Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 stipulates eligibility for the position of Comptroller General, and any deviation from this could constitute a breach of the law. The current service faces a significant generational gap due to a freeze on recruitment, which has raised questions about the need for institutional reform to strengthen the system.