By Mariam Abeeb
The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has confirmed the appointment of one Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs (DCG) and five Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACGs), while reviewing the Service’s revenue performance for 2026.
The decisions were taken at the Board’s 65th Regular Meeting held on September 2, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Professor Taiwo Oyedele.
The appointments followed the statutory retirement of some members of the 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 DCG is Constantine Dim from the South-East, while the confirmed ACGs 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 the upgrade of the Nigeria Customs Service Medical Corps to a sub-department to be headed by an Assistant Comptroller-General and supported by nine Comptrollers.
On recruitment, the Board received an update on the ongoing exercise and noted that successful candidates had been invited for documentation, physical and medical screening scheduled to begin on September 7, 2026.
The meeting also considered disciplinary matters involving officers of the Service. Following deliberations on several appeals, the Board approved various outcomes, including dismissal, exoneration, warning, compulsory retirement and reinstatement.
Customs Collects N4.30trn in Six Months
A major focus of the meeting was the Service’s revenue performance for 2026.
According to the Board, the Nigeria Customs Service collected N4.30 trillion as of the end of June 2026, representing 36.4 per cent of its annual revenue target of N11.074 trillion.
The Board noted that the Service had intensified its revenue mobilisation efforts through the full deployment of the Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, alongside expanded post-clearance and real-time audit operations.
Other measures highlighted include the Authorised Economic Operator programme, advance ruling initiatives, deployment of geospatial technology, joint border patrols and increased engagement with the trading community.
The Board also approved the Nigeria Customs Service De-Minimis Regulation, 2025, following consideration of a report by its Technical and Operations Committee. The regulation is intended to align the Service’s de-minimis framework with the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.
Digital Transformation, 2027 Finance Bill
The Board was further briefed on progress recorded in the Service’s digital transformation programme, with developments reported across trade systems, human resources automation, NII infrastructure and other digital applications.
The meeting also considered an invitation from the Federal Ministry of Finance for stakeholders to submit memoranda proposing amendments to the Nigeria Customs Service Act for possible consideration in the 2027 Finance Bill.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, congratulated the newly confirmed management members on behalf of the NCSB.
He reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, promoting accountability and sustaining revenue mobilisation as part of efforts to improve customs administration and facilitate trade.
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