Customs Trains Trainers Ahead of 2026 Recruitment Exercise
The Nigeria Customs Service has commenced preparations for the 2026 basic training programme for newly recruited officers, bringing together trainers from various disciplines for a coordinated training-of-trainers retreat.
The retreat, held on Wednesday in Ikeja, Lagos, brought together personnel responsible for key areas of the programme, including drill, medical services, security, sports and other training components.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the initiative was part of reforms introduced by the Service to ensure that trainers worked collectively rather than operating in separate segments.
Adeniyi, who was represented by the Assistant Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resource Development, Frank Onyeka, urged the trainers to work as a team and review the training modules to ensure that the exercise produces officers capable of meeting the expectations of the Service and society.
He cautioned against working in silos, stressing that collaboration and knowledge-sharing were essential to achieving the desired results.
“If you don’t work like a team, you will not get the desired results. Working in silos will not give us what we want, but if you come together as a team, it is a natural answer,” he said.
The Customs boss also urged heads of the various training units to take responsibility for their respective areas while remaining receptive to contributions and ideas from other trainers.
He noted that no individual had a monopoly on knowledge and advised participants against dismissing the views of their colleagues.
“To deliver this process and to get the desired results, all of us must work as one,” Adeniyi said.
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Reflecting on his experience as a trainer in 2008 and 2009, the Comptroller-General said officers trained during that period had progressed through the ranks, with some attaining the position of Assistant Controller.
He attributed part of their success to the collaborative approach adopted by trainers at the time.
Adeniyi explained that the NCS previously conducted training for trainers in separate segments, with different resource persons and instructors attending at different times.
He said the new approach was designed to bring all trainers together under one roof, promote a common understanding of the training objectives and ensure greater coordination.
“Instead of breaking these segments, we brought everybody under one roof for the same purpose, to get the same results and drive towards the same purpose,” he said.
According to him, the approach would save time, strengthen coordination and enhance the effectiveness of the basic training programme.
On the qualities expected of the new recruits, Adeniyi urged them to demonstrate discipline, perseverance, composure and a willingness to learn throughout the training period.
“They should be calm, they should be gentle, they should have perseverance, and they should exhibit a very high level of discipline,” he said.
Earlier, the Commandant of the Ikeja Training College, Deputy Comptroller Precious Atah, described the retreat as the first of its kind.
Atah said the exercise was critical to setting the tone for the forthcoming training programme and urged participants to approach their responsibilities with open minds.
The Coordinator of the retreat, retired Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Greg Itotoh, also charged the trainers to participate actively in the discussions and raise areas requiring clarification.
He said open discussions would help identify grey areas and facilitate the development of appropriate solutions ahead of the training exercise.
