By Our Reporter
The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has confirmed the appointment of one Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs (DCG) and five Assistant Comptroller-Generals of Customs (ACGs), following the statutory retirement of some members of the Service.
The approvals were made at the Board’s 65th Regular Meeting, held on September 2, 2026, and chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Professor Taiwo Oyedele.
The Board said the appointments were made in accordance with the Federal Character Policy of the Federal Government, as provided under Section 14(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The newly confirmed DCG is Constantine Dime from the South-East, while the confirmed ACGs are Pascal Chibuoke (South-East), Sani Yahaya (North-Central), Franklin Onyeka (South-South), Chibuzor Eyakwaire (South-South) and Ethelbert Nnaji (South-East).
The Board also approved the upgrade of the Nigeria Customs Service Medical Corps to a sub-department to be headed by an Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs and supported by nine Comptrollers.
It further received an update on the ongoing recruitment exercise, with successful candidates invited for documentation, physical and medical screening scheduled to commence on September 7, 2026.
On disciplinary matters, the Board considered several appeals and took decisions that included dismissal, exoneration, warning, compulsory retirement and reinstatement of affected officers.
The Board also reviewed the Service’s revenue performance against its 2026 annual target of ₦11.074 trillion.
As of the end of June 2026, the Nigeria Customs Service had collected ₦4.30 trillion, representing 36.4 per cent of its annual revenue target.
The Board noted that the Service had intensified its revenue mobilisation and trade facilitation efforts through the full deployment of the Unified Customs Management System, B’Odogwu, expanded post-clearance and real-time audits, as well as the Authorised Economic Operator and advance ruling programmes.
Other measures highlighted included the deployment of geospatial technology, joint border patrols and increased engagement with members of the trading community.
The Board also approved the Nigeria Customs Service De-Minimis Regulation, 2025, following a report by its Technical and Operations Committee, to align the regulation with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
It was further briefed on ongoing ICT and digital transformation initiatives, with substantial progress recorded in trade systems, human resources automation, NII infrastructure and other digital applications.
The Board also noted an invitation from the Federal Ministry of Finance for memoranda proposing amendments to the Nigeria Customs Service Act for possible inclusion in the 2027 Finance Bill.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on behalf of the Board, congratulated the newly appointed management members and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to accountability, institutional strengthening and sustained revenue mobilisation.
