President Tinubu Retains Customs CG Adeniyi Till Feb 2027, Says Reforms Must Be Completed
President Tinubu Retains Customs CG Adeniyi Till Feb 2027, Says Reforms Must Be Completed
By Success Okezie
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed off on a final six-month extension for the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, keeping the reform-minded CG in office until February 2027.
The announcement came Thursday through the Statehouse, with the Presidency explaining that the extension is not just about continuity — it’s about consolidation.
According to the statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, the extra six months will allow CGC Adeniyi to fully entrench the National Single Window project and steer the Service through a smooth, orderly succession process.
Adeniyi’s initial tenure extension was scheduled to lapse on August 1, 2026. President Tinubu’s new directive pushes that date to February 2027, giving the Customs boss more room to lock in reforms already underway.
The National Single Window — a digital trade platform designed to unify cargo clearance, cut delays, and block revenue leakages — remains a top priority. The Presidency says Adeniyi’s leadership is critical to ensuring the system takes firm root before a new CG steps in.
During the extension window, Adeniyi will work hand-in-hand with the NCS Board on two key mandates:
Promote eligible officers to the rank of Comptroller of Customs, rewarding merit and boosting morale.
Enforce compulsory retirement for officers who have reached 60 years of age or completed 35 years in service, in line with civil service rules.
The goal, the Presidency noted, is to refresh the Service, deepen institutional stability, and avoid leadership vacuum.
Adeniyi’s story mirrors the classic rise from the ranks. After graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University in the late 1980s, he joined Customs and earned his stripes. He once served as the National Public Relations Officer of the Service — a role that sharpened his communication and public engagement skills and climbed steadily: Deputy Comptroller in 2012 → Comptroller in 2017 → Assistant Comptroller General in 2020 → Acting Deputy Comptroller-General in January 2023.
In June 2023, President Tinubu appointed him Comptroller General. Under Adeniyi, NCS has intensified anti-smuggling operations, pushed trade facilitation, and recorded consistent revenue growth despite economic headwinds.
The extension sends a clear signal: President Tinubu wants reforms completed, not abandoned midstream. With the National Single Window and internal restructuring on the line, the next six months will define Adeniyi’s legacy — and the future shape of Nigeria’s Customs Service.
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