By Onu Okorie

Nigeria Customs Service Board NCSB has confirmed the appointments of one Deputy Comptroller-General DCG and five Assistant Comptroller-Generals ACGs following the statutory retirement of some senior officers of the Service.
The decisions were taken at the Board’s 65th Regular Meeting held on September 2, 2026, and chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Professor Taiwo Oyedele.
The newly confirmed Deputy Comptroller-General is Constantine Dim from the South-East, while the five 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 said the appointments 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.
At the meeting, the Board also approved the elevation of the Nigeria Customs Service Medical Corps to a sub-department to be headed by an Assistant Comptroller-General and supported by nine Comptrollers.
The Board was further briefed on the ongoing recruitment exercise, with successful candidates invited for documentation, physical and medical screening scheduled to commence on September 7, 2026.
It also considered several disciplinary appeals involving officers of the Service. The cases resulted in various decisions, including dismissal, exoneration, warning, compulsory retirement and reinstatement, depending on the circumstances of each case. N4.30trn Collected in Six Months
The Board reviewed the revenue performance of the Nigeria Customs Service for 2026 against an annual target of N11.074 trillion.
As of the end of June 2026, the Service had collected N4.30 trillion, representing 36.4 per cent of its annual target.
According to the Board, the Service has intensified measures aimed at improving revenue collection and trade facilitation. These include the full deployment of the Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, expanded post-clearance and real-time audit, as well as the implementation of the Authorised Economic Operator and advance ruling programmes.
The Service has also deployed geospatial technology, strengthened joint border patrols and increased engagement with stakeholders in the trading community as part of efforts to boost compliance and revenue mobilisation.
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.
Meanwhile, the Board received updates on the Service’s ongoing digital transformation programme, with substantial progress reported in trade systems, human resources automation, NII infrastructure and other digital applications. The Board also noted 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, on behalf of the Board, congratulated the newly appointed management members and reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to accountability, institutional strengthening and sustained revenue mobilisation.