When Nigeria Customs’ Performance Excites NSA Ribadu, By Abdulsalam Mahmud

When Nigeria Customs’ Performance Excites NSA Ribadu, By Abdulsalam Mahmud

Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has been receiving widespread commendations for his transformative leadership at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). In just over a year since assuming office, Adeniyi has successfully altered the previously appalling narrative of the NCS.

In July this year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, honoured Adeniyi with the “Outstanding Revenue Collection” award at the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS) event held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. This accolade recognized Adeniyi’s significant achievements in revenue generation since his appointment as Customs’ helmsman in June 2023.

Following President Tinubu’s commendation, the World Customs Organisation (WCO) also praised CGC Adeniyi’s remarkable achievements as the Customs boss. In a letter of commendation signed by WCO Director, Larry Liza, the organisation hailed NCS’ remarkable 74 percent growth in revenue over the past year, marking a significant milestone in customs administration.

“This outstanding feat has not gone unnoticed and stands as a testament to your dedication and effective leadership. We continue to draw inspiration from the leadership of CGC Adeniyi, which transcends borders and exemplifies excellence in customs management. Our congratulations extend to his team, stakeholders and the entire nation of Nigeria,” part of the WCO’s letter reads.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has similarly acknowledged Adeniyi’s outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth. Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), recently commended the Customs CG for his dedication to tightening surveillance across Nigeria’s borders to combat petroleum product smuggling.

Ribadu made this commendation during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting at the NSA office in Abuja, emphasizing the importance of addressing the recurring challenge of petroleum smuggling, which poses a threat to Nigeria’s economy and national security.

The NSA praised the efforts of the Customs Service under Adeniyi’s leadership, highlighting the agency’s role in not only securing Nigeria’s borders but also protecting the integrity of the country’s economy. Ribadu described petroleum smuggling as a “cancer that kills,” stating that it depletes vital resources needed for national development and undermines government revenue.

Ribadu stressed that the nation’s security apparatus must collaborate to tackle the smuggling menace, which, if left unaddressed, will continue to destabilize the oil sector and foster illegal activities across the country’s borders.

Ribadu appreciated the presence of key stakeholders, including representatives from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), among others.

In his remarks, Bashir Adeniyi emphasized the Nigeria Customs’ commitment to fulfilling its legal mandate, particularly in light of the NCS Act 2023. This act, according to Adeniyi, empowers the agency to enforce stringent measures against smuggling activities nationwide.

Adeniyi, who acknowledged the complexity of petroleum product smuggling, reiterated the Nigeria Customs’ determination to address the issue, pointing to recent operations led by Comptroller Ejibunu, aimed at dismantling smuggling syndicates.

“What we are doing here today is a clear demonstration of the good intentions of the Office of the National Security Adviser, which has provided us with a platform to mount and execute special operations against smuggling,” Adeniyi said. He added, “The repositioning of Nigeria’s economy and the oil sector is a crucial objective, and as an organization, the Nigeria Customs Service is ready to play its role in achieving this.”

The Customs boss explained that the Service is leveraging innovative technologies to enhance border security, stating, “One key initiative is the integration of real-time monitoring systems, similar to those used by Dubai Customs, which have successfully employed blockchain technology to track and authenticate oil and gas movements.”

He also urged stakeholders to focus on transparency and accountability throughout the petroleum supply chain. While acknowledging that smuggling is driven by factors beyond the Nigeria Customs’ control, Adeniyi pledged that the NCS would not relent in its efforts to combat the illegal trade.

“We remain committed to ensuring that legitimate businesses thrive, while at the same time, we will not hesitate to suppress any form of illegitimate activities in the petroleum sector,” Adeniyi said. Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, emphasized the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, noting that anti-smuggling efforts require the combined strength of various government agencies, including the NCS, NMDPRA, NNPC Ltd., and security services.

Ejibunu, who acknowledged the financial burden associated with conducting the operations, also called for an increase in funding and allocation of vehicles to the operatives of Operation Whirlwind. The stakeholders, for their part, all agreed to show commitment to eliminating petroleum smuggling and securing Nigeria’s borders, stating, “We all dissociated ourselves from anything smuggling, and we’re in support of this operation, Operation Whirlwind.”

The commendation from Ribadu underscores the transformative impact of Adeniyi’s leadership on the Nigeria Customs, highlighting its crucial role in protecting national resources and fortifying economic stability. This accolade not only celebrates the NCS’ past achievements, but also serves as a catalyst for continued innovation and vigilance.

Moving forward, the agency must sustain its productivity momentum, while also embracing new strategies to address the persistent challenges of smuggling and border security. Indeed, when Customs’ performance excites Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, it represents a significant milestone of progress, while also serving as a call for the good works (of the NCS) to be sustained.

*Mahmud, Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, can be reached via: [email protected].*