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By Lanre Aminu
“What counts in life is not the mere fact we have lived, it is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead”… NELSON MANDELA. Today, Monday, January 19, 2026 gave us an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary life of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. In the grand tapestry of leadership, there are those who merely occupy positions and those who transforms them into platforms for meaningful change and development.
Let me make it clear to any rational mind that we are not just merely celebrating an individual, we are celebrating a phenomenon, titan, whose impact transcended the realms of his immediate environment and resonated far beyond. Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi is not just a dedicated public servant, he is a beacon of hope, a tireless worker, embodiment of wisdom and a guardian of people’s right and heritage. His journey through life serves as a profound testament to the power of resilience, pursuit of excellence and unyielding commitment to the development and betterment of humanity. His name is synonymous to service to the people and the nation. During his early years in public service, Adeniyi developed the qualities that would define him for the rest of his life: courage, integrity, resilience, and unwavering belief in public good.
His commitment to the welfare of the men and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)is evident in his wise and compassionate leadership. Adeniyi embarked on far reaching reforms immediately he assumes the mantle of leadership of the NCS to bring about a massive improvement in the revenue generating capacity of the Service, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling tactics. There’s no iota doubt that the NCS under Adeniyi’s watch is making significant contribution to the economy of Nigeria in the last two and half years. As St St Christopher once remarked, “If you doubt my ability, behold my works! Adeniyi’s track record of performance since he became the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) helmsman two and half years ago is a reassuring testimony of his greatness.
On assumption of office, Adeniyi facilitated the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs of Benin Republic and he will forever be remembered as the CGC who facilitated the removal of barriers to legitimate trade between both countries in line with the ECOWAS trade Liberalization scheme. To say he has surpassed revenue projections will merely be underscoring the obvious. Unprecedented massive improvement in revenue generation by the Service under Adeniyi’s watch in the last two and half years despite a sharp reduction in the volume of trades is instructive: The record are there: Before his appointment, the Service monthly revenue collection averaged N202 billion, in the first half of the year 2023, indicating about N105 billion shortfall from the N307 billion budgetary target.
But in a period of one year, that is between June 2023 and May 2024, under Adeniyi’s watch, the NCS generated N4.4 trillion in revenue, from the N2.58 trillion recorded within the same period in the previous year, an impressive revenue jump of a whopping N1.9 trillion! or 74% growth. Since his appointment in June 2023, there has been a sustained increase of 70.13% in average monthly revenue collection compared to the previous year, which in monetary value corresponds to an average monthly revenue collection of N343 billion, compared to the N202 billion in monthly average of the previous year before his appointment, indicating about N105 billion shortfall from the N307 budgetary target. In the first half of 2025, the NCS generated N3.7 trillion, a revenue performance that exceeded budgetary expectations and outpaced 2024 results. The revenue represented a 12.5 percent increase above budgetary projections and 25 percent higher than collections recorded in the same period of 2024.
By January, 2026, the NCS reported significant revenue for 2025, with major commands like Apapa, netting N2.93 trillion(24.32% increase above 2024 figure), Kano/Jigawa command netting over N112.7 billion and Seme command netting N15.6 billion (117% increase). While final annual figures are being awaited in early 2026, the preliminary data indicates that the NCS had a very successful year, with individual commands significantly exceeding previous collections and contributing to a strong national performance, potentially meeting or beating the N10 trillion target set for 2025. In view of the above, NCS improved revenue performance has had direct implications for national fiscal planning.
With stronger remittances and clearer reporting, government authorities can plan budget with greater confidence. In view of the above, not a few will agree with this writer that Adeniyi’s tenure as the Custom helmsman stands as a testament to visionary leadership, unwavering integrity and an unrelenting commitment to national progress. Even after his retirement, his wealth of experience remain a national resource. Long after he might have exit the Service, his memory will leave not only in physical landmark, but in the hearts of the officers and men he has impacted positively. Adeniyi’s legacy is a clarion call to prioritize competence, equity and sustainable development. His life work reminds us that leadership does not retire- it evolves.The NCS and the people of Nigeria owe him a debt of gratitude. We wish him more years of impacting on humanity as he continues to serve in new capacities.We also wish him good health and peace of heart as well as divine wisdom to continue the good works and to continually be relevant in the scheme of things in Nigeria and beyond. Aminu, Convener of All Nigeria Youth for Good Governance write from 30, Aminu road, Sabongari, Kano, Nigeria.
•Aminu can be reached via email address: [email protected]
