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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
No fewer than 37 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Thursday rose in defence of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, declaring him “clean, transparent and not corrupt.”
The groups, at a press briefing in Abuja, unanimously passed a strong vote of confidence on Adeniyi, insisting that recent allegations and media attacks against him were sponsored by economic saboteurs frustrated by the Customs boss’ anti-smuggling reforms and revenue drive.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Amadi Chinda of Initiative for Community Development said investigations carried out by the CSOs showed that Adeniyi had repositioned the Service through professionalism, transparency and patriotism.
According to him, those attacking the Customs CG were individuals whose illegal businesses had been crippled by the agency’s reforms and stricter enforcement measures.
“We have discovered that those sponsoring blackmail against CG Adeniyi are people whose illicit businesses have been grounded by the policies and operations of the NCS since he assumed office,” Chinda said.
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“Their claims are unfounded, misleading and aimed at sabotaging the economy and revenue generation of the country.”
The coalition said under Adeniyi’s leadership, the NCS recorded unprecedented achievements, including a record ₦7 trillion revenue generation in 2025 and ₦6.1 trillion collected in 2024, surpassing government targets.
The CSOs also praised the Customs boss for introducing reforms anchored on “consolidation, collaboration and innovation,” which they said improved trade facilitation, blocked revenue leakages and strengthened anti-smuggling operations.
They noted that the ongoing $3.2 billion e-Customs modernisation project and digital reforms had boosted efficiency and reduced cargo clearance delays.
The groups further commended Adeniyi for balancing aggressive revenue generation with policies aimed at reducing the cost of doing business and supporting non-oil revenue growth.
“These are only a few of his achievements. We unanimously and unequivocally pass a vote of confidence on the amiable Comptroller General of Customs,” Chinda added.
The CSOs urged Nigerians to disregard what they described as “cheap blackmail” against the Customs boss and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to retain Adeniyi to continue his reforms in the Service.
