By Uche Usim
If there is one appointment made by President Bola Tinubu that gladdens stakeholders’ hearts, it is elevating Adewale Adeniyi to the position Comptroller-General at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in June 2023.
While expectations were high, only few people predicted the deep reforms and international recognition that would follow within just two years.
According to port analysts, Adeniyi’s strength lies in his stealth, as he prefers to launch initiatives in areas many thought were forgotten arenas.
From handsome revenue generation to mouth-gaping seizures, he keeps upping the ante.
Just last month, Adeniyi stood before the world in Brussels when he was elected as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, representing 186 member nations.
It was a moment of history. A Nigerian, for the first time, would guide global Customs discourse.
Yet more than a personal triumph, it marked a resounding endorsement of a bold new vision, one that began on home soil, with a deep commitment to institutional integrity, trade facilitation and the power of reform to uplift nations.
Reformer-in-Chief
Appointed by President Bola Tinubu on June 19, 2023, and confirmed in October that same year, Adeniyi arrived with a clear mandate: modernise Customs, curb smuggling, foster stakeholder trust and rebuild the institution’s global relevance.
But this was no ordinary administrator. Decorated with the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) for turning down a bribe and upholding integrity, Adeniyi brought to the role a rare blend of technical expertise, moral clarity and diplomatic agility.
At the heart of his agenda was a transformative framework built on “Consolidation, Collaboration, and Innovation (CCI)”, a strategic triad designed to break with the past and usher in a culture of performance, transparency, and people-centered service.
Expanding frontiers and cementing bridges
One of Adeniyi’s earliest moves signaled the direction of his leadership: the disbandment of ad-hoc strike forces and checkpoint units that had long plagued highways and alienated stakeholders. By collapsing them into the Federal Operations Unit, Adeniyi streamlined enforcement, reduced harassment and earned applause from weary transporters.
“This is the kind of leadership we’ve been yearning for.
“He listens, he acts and most importantly, he understands”, a transporter and road transport union member stated
But Adeniyi’s reforms reached far deeper than structural adjustments. He commissioned a Revenue Review Recovery Team to trace fiscal leakages and underpayments, thus restoring confidence in the system and boosting internally generated revenue.
Leveraging technology to boost transparency
Digital transformation is now the heartbeat of Nigeria Customs under Adeniyi.
The launch of the Advance Ruling System, supported by the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), allows traders to receive binding Customs decisions on classification, origin and valuation, before goods arrive. This not only aligns Nigeria with global best practices under the WCO and WTO but significantly reduces ambiguity and trade disputes.
Adeniyi also revived the Comptroller-General’s Annual Conference, which had been dormant for over a decade.
In December 2023, policymakers, Customs agents, port authorities, and freight forwarders converged in Lagos to reimagine Nigeria’s trade future. The conference created a new space for dialogue, policy recalibration, and partnership-building.
“Customs is no longer working in isolation. There’s a clear message: progress is mutual”, a delegate noted.
Deepening regional diplomacy and gloobal voice
Adeniyi understood early that Customs reform cannot succeed in silos. In a commendable collaboration, Nigeria signed a bilateral agreement with Benin Republic Customs to jointly combat smuggling, harmonise border operations, and share intelligence.
His launch of Nigeria’s Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme further elevated the country’s status within the WCO ecosystem, enabling trusted businesses to benefit from simplified customs processes, encouraging trade growth and boosting investor confidence.
These regional actions set the stage for his unanimous election as WCO Council Chairperson in June 2024, a first for Nigeria, and a significant moment for Africa.
Reform with a human face
Perhaps what makes Adeniyi’s leadership truly exceptional is his emphasis on humanitarian outcomes. Under his watch, the NCS moved beyond enforcement and revenue into citizen-centered service delivery.
In the face of rising food prices, the service launched a bold initiative: distributing seized rice and essential food items to vulnerable citizens at N10,000 per 50kg bag, far below market rates. Widows, traders, and artisans lined up in thousands, grateful not just for the relief, but for a government institution that acted with compassion.
“This is not just customs duty, this is social responsibility in action,” said Mrs Amaka Ohaeri in Port Harcourt.
Seized vehicles and perishables were similarly distributed to humanitarian causes, reinforcing Adeniyi’s belief that customs operations must support national wellbeing, not just enforcement quotas.
Welfare and human capacity development
Reform also began from within. More than 2,200 officers were promoted in 2023 alone, based on merit and clear performance metrics. Training programs were intensified, with 348 officers retrained across all zones to improve technical competence and professional ethics.
The WCO-led Kyoto Convention Workshop hosted in Abuja brought together customs delegates from across West Africa to explore simplified customs procedures and capacity building.
Adeniyi’s commitment to staff welfare also extended to retirees, as he rolled out plans for a retiree healthcare scheme and strengthened pension protocols, ensuring that those who served the nation are not forgotten.
Ports, borders and revenue reform
Nigeria’s congested ports and leaky borders had long been symbols of dysfunction. Adeniyi tackled them head-on.
He inaugurated a special committee to clear over 7,000 abandoned containers clogging Lagos ports, launching an online auction process that not only freed up space but also boosted transparency. Enforcement of the 48-hour cargo clearance policy now sends a clear message: Nigeria’s ports are open for business, and time is money.
In border zones, the NCS ramped up coordination with the Navy, Police, DSS, Immigration, NDLEA, and other agencies, arresting smugglers, intercepting contraband, and safeguarding national revenue.
Adeniyi made it clear: no agency can do it alone. “Inter-agency synergy is now non-negotiable,” he said. “Security and trade depend on shared intelligence and joint action.”
In 2023, the NCS under Adeniyi collected N3.2 trillion, a 21.4% rise from the previous year. While it fell slightly short of the N3.68 trillion target, the momentum was undeniable.
Now with a 2024 revenue target of N5.79 trillion, Adeniyi is banking on increased automation, tighter enforcement and expanded excise duty to deliver. He is also working with the finance ministry to review import concessions, ensuring Nigeria retains value from its trade policies.
“If we align incentives and policies, we’ll not only meet this target, we’ll exceed it,” he said confidently.
Global mandate
As WCO Council Chair, Adeniyi now has a global platform to advocate for Africa’s interests, especially in areas such as trade harmonization, digital customs, capacity development, and conflict-sensitive border management.
He brings to the role a proven track record, a pan-African outlook, and a belief that customs agencies can be drivers of economic transformation, not merely gatekeepers.
His leadership will be instrumental as countries implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and strive to reduce non-tariff barriers across borders.
According to many experts, Adeniyi’s story is more than a personal success, it is a case study in institutional transformation, built on courage, competence and character. It reminds Nigerians, and the world, that when public service is anchored in integrity and reform is pursued with purpose, change is not only possible, but inevitable.
In two years, Adeniyi has restored pride in the Nigeria Customs Service, opened new avenues for trade and investment and positioned Nigeria as a respected voice in the global Customs community.
At a time when trust in institutions is in short supply, many insist that Adeniyi remains proof that leadership still matters and results speak louder than rhetoric.