That Presidential Endorsement of the Customs Boss

By Abdulsalam Mahmud

Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s tenure at the helm of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been anything but leisurely. In the past two years, the man who assumed the role of Comptroller-General has been navigating one of the most demanding terrains in public service — steering a critical institution at the heart of Nigeria’s fiscal and security battles.

With President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to extend his tenure by another year, rest remains a luxury Adeniyi cannot afford. The announcement, made last week, carried the tone of a presidential endorsement — yet beneath the neat phrasing of official approval lies a sharper truth: this extension is not a ceremonial reward for a job well done, but a call to dig deeper. Tinubu’s vote of confidence is, in reality, a vote of no rest — an unspoken demand for accelerated reforms, tighter controls, and a more effective Customs as a key instrument in the nation’s economic recovery.

Since assuming office, Adeniyi has grappled with entrenched inefficiencies and towering expectations. Customs, after all, is more than just an agency for clearing goods and collecting duties; it is a frontline guardian of Nigeria’s economic stability, standing between legitimate commerce and the chaos of unchecked smuggling.

Tinubu’s decision to keep him in office until August 2026 is as much about continuity as it is about unfinished business. The modernisation of the Customs Service is not a single reform but a layered overhaul — upgrading technology, retraining officers, enforcing discipline, and aligning operations with global best practices. The National Single Window Project, a flagship initiative under Adeniyi’s watch, remains a work in progress. When fully implemented, it promises to harmonise trade processes, curb corruption, and save Nigerian businesses valuable time and resources.

Then there is the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) — a pact that could either open golden gateways for Nigerian exporters or become a back door for foreign goods to flood the market. In this equation, Customs is the first and last line of defence. Adeniyi’s challenge is to ensure Nigeria reaps AfCFTA’s benefits without becoming its biggest casualty. It is a delicate balancing act: facilitating trade while shielding the nation’s borders from predatory imports.

Revenue generation, the Service’s traditional mandate, has taken on even greater urgency under Adeniyi. With the nation’s fiscal health under strain, every naira counts. Leakages, smuggling rings, and under-declaration of goods are not one-off battles but continuous wars. While his leadership has already delivered notable revenue gains, Tinubu’s extension suggests the president believes there is still untapped potential within the system.

Adeniyi’s insistence on professionalism, integrity, and efficiency has earned him admiration, but also resistance. Reformers often find that the fiercest pushback comes from within, and Customs is no exception. Presidential backing gives Adeniyi the political cover to push harder against internal saboteurs and entrenched cartels. It also spares the Service the disruption of a leadership transition at a moment when momentum is crucial.

Still, the road ahead is far from smooth. Technological upgrades require significant investment, smuggling networks will not dissolve overnight, and regional trade obligations sometimes clash with national economic priorities. Adeniyi must navigate these obstacles without losing focus, knowing that each decision will be scrutinised not only by his boss in Aso Rock but also by traders, clearing agents, and border communities whose livelihoods are shaped by Customs policies.

The irony of high office is that success rarely brings respite; the more you deliver, the more is expected. For Adeniyi, this extra year is both a lifeline and a leash. It is time granted, but time bound by the urgency of unfinished work.

Within Customs headquarters, the extension will be read as a signal of trust. At the ports and in border towns, it will be judged by tangible results — faster clearance times, reduced corruption, fairer duties, and the easing of trade bottlenecks. Ultimately, Adeniyi’s legacy will rest not on the number of years he served, but on the depth of change those years produced.

For now, the president’s message is unmistakable: there will be no slowing down. CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi may be the man for the job, but the job remains as demanding as ever. Tinubu’s endorsement is a challenge — to finish strong, to leave the Service better than he met it, and to prove that institutional reform in Nigeria, however difficult, is possible.

If Adeniyi needed a reminder that his work is far from done, he has received it — stamped, signed, and delivered from the highest office in the land. As he steps into this extended tenure, the clock is ticking, and the nation is watching.

Mahmud, Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, can be reached via: [email protected]