In a bid to strengthen Nigeria’s customs administration and consolidate key trade and revenue reforms, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year tenure extension for the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, allowing him to continue in office until August 2026. This extension marks a crucial phase in the implementation of strategic reforms under the Tinubu-led administration.
The announcement was contained in an official statement released on Wednesday and signed by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy. The presidency emphasized that the decision to extend Adeniyi’s leadership was informed by the need to maintain continuity in the execution of critical reforms currently underway at the Nigeria Customs Service. These reforms are expected to significantly enhance Nigeria’s customs efficiency, trade facilitation processes, and border security infrastructure.
Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who was first appointed as acting Comptroller-General of Customs in June 2023, was confirmed in a substantive capacity in October 2023 following the retirement of former CG Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd). Since assuming office, Adeniyi has spearheaded a transformation agenda that focuses on digitizing customs operations, enhancing transparency, improving cargo clearance times, and increasing revenue generation for the federal government.
According to the statement, President Tinubu specifically tasked Adeniyi with consolidating the progress made so far in the implementation of the National Single Window Project; a digital platform designed to streamline all cross-border trade processes in Nigeria. The platform, when fully implemented, is expected to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, reduce corruption, and enable seamless processing of imports and exports through a unified portal.
The extension of Adeniyi’s tenure also supports Nigeria’s commitment to fulfilling its trade obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol. By aligning customs procedures with global best practices, Nigeria aims to increase intra-African trade, attract foreign investment, and create a more predictable business environment for manufacturers and exporters.
“President Tinubu recognises Mr. Adeniyi’s steadfast leadership and commitment to national service. The President is confident that this extension will further strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service in achieving its strategic mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and border security,” the statement from the presidency read.
Under Adeniyi’s leadership, the Nigeria Customs Service has launched new initiatives to clamp down on smuggling, enhance anti-corruption efforts, and drive the modernization of border posts and ports nationwide. His administration has also engaged stakeholders across the trade and logistics value chain to ensure greater cooperation, faster clearance of goods, and improved service delivery.
Trade analysts have commended the tenure extension as a positive step toward institutional stability. According to experts, the decision reflects President Tinubu’s strategic vision to align leadership with policy continuity, especially in key revenue-generating agencies like the Customs Service. The Customs CG’s reappointment also sends a strong message to development partners and the international business community about Nigeria’s resolve to reform and strengthen its trade infrastructure.
The Nigeria Customs Service remains one of the most critical arms of government responsible for border control, trade enforcement, and the collection of import duties, excise taxes, and other levies. With Adeniyi’s extended leadership, there is renewed optimism that the Customs Service will continue to evolve into a globally competitive agency equipped to support Nigeria’s economic growth and fiscal sustainability.