Nigeria Customs Confirms Senior Appointments, Upgrades Medical Unit
By Patience Ikpeme
The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB), has confirmed the appointment of one Deputy Comptroller-General and five Assistant Comptroller-Generals, approved an internal medical upgrade, and reviewed the Service’s mid-year revenue performance against its 2026 target.
The board, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, approved the appointments in line with the Federal Character Policy provided for under Section 14(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Constantine Dim from the South-East was confirmed as Deputy Comptroller-General. Those confirmed as Assistant Comptroller-Generals are Pascal Chibuoke and Ethelbert Nnaji, both from the South-East; Sani Yahaya from the North-Central; and Franklin Onyeka and Chibuzor Eyakwaire from the South-South.
The board also approved a major change in the structure of the Customs medical service.
Under the new arrangement, the Nigeria Customs Service Medical Corp will become a sub-department headed by an Assistant Comptroller-General and supported by nine comptrollers.
The decision is expected to strengthen the medical services available to Customs personnel and improve the management of health-related matters within the Service.
The board was also informed about progress in the ongoing recruitment exercise. According to the board, candidates who were successful in the recruitment process have been invited to begin documentation, physical screening and medical examinations from September 7, 2026.
Revenue performance was another major issue considered at the meeting. The board said the Customs Service collected N4.30 trillion by the end of June 2026, representing 36.4 per cent of its N11.074 trillion revenue target for the year.
The board said the Service was taking steps to improve revenue collection while making legitimate trade easier for businesses.
Some of the measures include wider use of the Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, as well as stronger post-clearance and real-time audits.
The Service is also expanding the Authorised Economic Operator programme and advance ruling system, which are designed to provide greater certainty and faster processing for compliant businesses.
Customs is also using geospatial technology and joint border patrols as part of efforts to improve enforcement and tackle activities that could undermine revenue collection and lawful trade.
The board said Customs was also engaging more closely with businesses and other members of the trading community as part of efforts to improve compliance and make the country’s trade environment more efficient.
On regulations, the board approved the Nigeria Customs Service De-Minimis Regulation, 2025, to bring the regulation into line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
The board also received updates on the Service’s digital transformation programme.
The update covered developments in trade systems, human resources automation, NII infrastructure and other digital applications being deployed to improve Customs operations.
The board further noted an invitation from the Ministry of Finance for stakeholders to submit memoranda on possible amendments to the Customs Act. Such proposals may be considered for inclusion in the 2027 Finance Bill.
Speaking on behalf of the board, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, congratulated the newly appointed senior officers.
He said the Service remained committed to “accountability, institutional strengthening, and sustained revenue mobilisation.”
The board also considered appeals arising from disciplinary cases within the Service. The cases produced different decisions, including dismissal, exoneration, warning, compulsory retirement and reinstatement, depending on the circumstances of each case.
The decisions form part of the Service’s efforts to maintain discipline and professional standards among its officers and personnel.
