By Julius Peter
The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has approved the confirmation of one Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs and five Assistant Comptroller-Generals, while reviewing the Service’s revenue performance amid efforts to meet its N11.074 trillion target for 2026.
The decisions were taken at the 65th Regular Meeting of the Board held on September 2, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Prof. Taiwo Oyedele.
The appointments followed the statutory retirement of some members of the Nigeria Customs Service and were made in line 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 Deputy Comptroller-General is Constantine Dim from the South-East.
The five Assistant Comptroller-Generals confirmed by the Board 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 restructuring of the Service’s medical administration, upgrading the Nigeria Customs Service Medical Corps to a sub-department to be headed by an Assistant Comptroller-General.
The new sub-department will be supported by nine Comptrollers, a move expected to strengthen the management and administration of healthcare services within the Customs Service.
The Board was also briefed on the ongoing recruitment exercise into the Nigeria Customs Service, with successful candidates now invited to proceed to the next stages of the process.
According to the Service, documentation, physical and medical screening for successful applicants is scheduled to begin on September 7, 2026.
The recruitment exercise comes as the Service continues efforts to strengthen its manpower base and improve operational capacity across its commands and departments.
The Board also considered a number of disciplinary appeals involving officers and reached decisions on individual cases.
The outcomes of the disciplinary proceedings included dismissal, exoneration, warning, compulsory retirement and reinstatement, reflecting the range of sanctions and corrective measures available under the Service’s disciplinary framework.
A major issue before the Board was the revenue performance of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The Service has an annual revenue target of N11.074 trillion for 2026. As of the end of June, it had collected N4.30 trillion, representing 36.4 per cent of the annual target.
The Board reviewed the performance and noted a number of measures being deployed by Customs to strengthen revenue collection, improve compliance and facilitate legitimate trade.
Among the measures highlighted was the full deployment of the Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, which the Service said is part of its broader digital transformation agenda.
Customs also reported intensified post-clearance and real-time audit operations, as well as the expansion of programmes including the Authorised Economic Operator and advance ruling initiatives.
The Service has also deployed geospatial technology, increased joint border patrol operations and deepened engagement with members of the trading community as part of efforts to improve compliance and reduce revenue leakages.
The Board’s review comes against the backdrop of increasing emphasis by the Federal Government on revenue mobilisation and the use of technology to improve the efficiency and transparency of tax and customs administration.
The NCSB further approved the Nigeria Customs Service De-Minimis Regulation, 2025, following a report by its Technical and Operations Committee.
The regulation is intended to align the De-Minimis framework with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
De-minimis arrangements generally provide simplified customs treatment for qualifying low-value consignments, with the aim of reducing administrative burdens and facilitating trade while maintaining appropriate regulatory controls.
The approval forms part of the Board’s broader consideration of operational and regulatory measures aimed at improving the efficiency of customs administration.
The Board was also updated on developments in the Service’s information and communications technology (ICT) transformation programme.
According to the Service, substantial progress has been recorded across several areas, including trade systems, human resources automation, NII infrastructure and other digital applications.
The developments form part of Customs’ wider push to reduce manual processes, improve data management and strengthen the efficiency of interactions between the Service and stakeholders in the trading community.
The Board also received an invitation from the Federal Ministry of Finance for stakeholders to submit memoranda proposing amendments to the Nigeria Customs Service Act.
The proposed amendments may be considered for possible inclusion in the 2027 Finance Bill.
The invitation provides an opportunity for stakeholders to make proposals on areas of the Customs Act that may require review in light of emerging developments in trade, technology, revenue administration and customs operations.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on behalf of the Nigeria Customs Service Board, congratulated the newly confirmed management members.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Service to accountability, institutional strengthening and sustained revenue mobilisation.
The latest appointments and administrative decisions come as the Nigeria Customs Service continues to implement reforms aimed at modernising its operations, improving revenue performance and strengthening its institutional capacity.
With N4.30 trillion collected by the end of June against the full-year target of N11.074 trillion, the Service will need to sustain and potentially intensify its revenue mobilisation efforts during the remaining months of 2026 to close the gap with its annual target.
The 65th Regular Meeting therefore addressed not only senior management appointments but also a broad range of issues spanning revenue generation, recruitment, discipline, healthcare administration, regulatory reform and digital transformation.
