Lawal, Adeniyi, Yari Rally Support for Customs Act 2023 at Book Launch
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, and former Zamfara West Senator, Abdulaziz Yari, have called on Customs officers and other stakeholders to faithfully implement the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 to strengthen trade facilitation, enhance revenue generation and boost the nation’s economy.
The call was made on Tuesday in Abuja during the public presentation and launch of the book, Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023: Historical Context, Service Reforms and Predicament of Application, authored by retired Customs Comptroller Abdullahi Bello Gusau.
The event, held at the Ahmed Makarfi Hall of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, attracted senior government officials, traditional rulers, retired and serving Customs officers, security experts and other stakeholders.
Speaking as Chief Host, Comptroller-General Adeniyi described the publication as a timely contribution to the understanding and implementation of the Customs Act 2023, particularly as the Service continues to modernise its operations.
Represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of the Training and Doctrine Command, Suleiman Ciroma, Adeniyi said the book’s greatest strength lies in its analysis of the practical challenges associated with implementing the new law.
“The true brilliance of the book lies in its willingness to tackle the predicament of application. Transitioning from a 65-year-old legal framework to a cutting-edge statutory regime is a complex journey,” he said.
He reminded Customs officers and stakeholders that effective implementation of the law depends on those entrusted with its enforcement.
“Laws do not enforce themselves; they are applied by people within a dynamic economic ecosystem,” Adeniyi noted, adding that the book offers valuable insights into operational adaptability, stakeholder alignment and jurisdictional clarity.
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The Customs boss urged stakeholders to study the publication with an open mind, stressing that the Customs Act 2023 was designed to facilitate legitimate trade, protect businesses and strengthen the national economy rather than punish compliant operators.
Representing Governor Dauda Lawal as Special Guest of Honour, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Acacia African Commodity Exchange, Alhaji Usman Balarabe, congratulated the author for documenting his decades of professional experience in the Nigeria Customs Service.
He said the publication would enrich the institutional memory of the Service and support ongoing reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria’s international trade and customs administration.
Chairman of the occasion and former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau (rtd.), represented by the Danmasanin Gusau, Alhaji Shehu Umar Sambo, described the book as a valuable reference material for Customs officers, researchers and policymakers.
He commended the author for bringing honour to both the Nigeria Customs Service and Zamfara State, while encouraging other retired officers to document their professional experiences for future generations.
Chief Launcher of the event, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, represented by former Zamfara State Governor, Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi, described the publication as a testament to the author’s distinguished career and contributions to the Customs Service.
Yari noted that the large turnout of guests from states including Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, Kebbi, Taraba, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory reflected the high regard in which the retired Customs officer is held.
The Sultan of Sokoto was represented at the ceremony by the Sarkin Burmin Jabo, Alhaji Aliyu Garba, while the Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Assistant Comptroller-General Dow Gaura, reviewed the book.
The 2023 Nigeria Customs Service Act replaced the Customs and Excise Management Act, providing a modern legal framework for customs administration, trade facilitation, revenue generation and border security in line with international best practices. The author argues that effective implementation of the legislation will depend not only on the provisions of the law but also on the commitment of Customs personnel and other stakeholders to its faithful application.
By PRNigeria
