Customs Board Confirms Appointment of Nnadi, Omale, Ejibunu, Acting ACGs

…As Service Spokesman, Usman, Marble, Isah, Others’ Makes Promotion List

BY FUNMI ALUKO

While S Chiroma (North-East) topped the list of officers recently appointed into the executive management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dera Nnadi mni, Musa Omale and Kehinde Ejibunu were among eight comptrollers appointed Assistant Comptrollers General (ACG).

Notably, the Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) approved a posthumous promotion in honour of the late Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Etop Andrew Essien, who passed away on June 25, 2024, during a presentation before the National Assembly House Committee on Public Accounts.

“This gesture acknowledges his invaluable contributions and unwavering dedication, a testament to the organisation’s appreciation of exceptional service and commitment”, the statement added.

This is even as the Customs National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada led the pack of PR Unit Officers, including Abubakar Usman of Apapa Area Command, his deputy, Joseph Adejoh, and Saidu Nurudeen Abdulahi,  of Kano/Jigawa Area Command.

Other PR Unit Officers who made the promotion include Sulaiman Isah ( Federal Operations Unit, Zone B Kaduna), Rose Marble (Edo/Delta Area Command), Hussaini Onawo (Seme Border Command), and Zachari Chado (Kwara Area Command), who were respectively elevated to the next rank.

A release made available to our reporter by the CNPRO said the development was reached at the NCSB 61st regular meeting held on 18 December 2024 held at the Customs headquarters.

The statement reads: “The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB), at its 61st regular meeting held on 18 December 2024, chaired by the Honorable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, confirmed the appointment of one Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) and seven Assistant Comptrollers’ General (ACGs). Additionally, 4,291 senior officers were promoted.

“The newly confirmed Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Management Team members include DCG S Chiroma (North-East) and ACGs ZM Gaji (North-East), OA Adebakin (South-West), GM Omale (North-Central), MS Yusuf (North-Central), DA Nnadi (South-East), HK Ejibunu (North-Central), and D Hassan (North-East). These appointments are to fill the vacancies created based on the retirement of some management team members from the affected geopolitical zones of the federation. The action further aligns with the Service’s commitment to national inclusivity, institutional balance, and adherence to the Federal Character Policy as outlined in Section 14(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.”

While the statement noted that the promotion of senior officers highlights the exceptional performance of both General Duty (GD) and Support Staff (SS) personnel during the 2024 promotion exercise, it gave the breakdown of the 4,291 officers elevated to consist of 80 Deputy Comptrollers (DC) up to Customs Comptroller (CC), 151 Assistant Comptrollers (AC) to Deputy Comptroller (DC) and 612 Chief Superintendents of Customs (CSC) to Assistant Comptroller (AC), respectively.

Others are 641 Superintendents of Customs (SC) to Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC), 392 Deputy Superintendents of Customs (DSC) to Superintendent of Customs (SC), 590 Assistant Superintendents of Customs I (ASC I) to Deputy Superintendent of Customs (DSC), 965 Assistant Superintendents of Customs II (ASC II) to ASC I, and 860 Inspectors of Customs (IC) to ASC II.

The statement reads further: “Recognising extraordinary contributions, the Board also approved special promotions for sixteen (16) deserving officers to the next higher rank based on their exceptional performance in various assigned responsibilities.”

The board made other far reaching decisions affecting the administrative structure of the service in addition to addressing critical personnel gaps that slowly and regrettably crept into the service.

“As part of its drive for enhanced service delivery and streamlined administrative processes in line with global best practices, the Board approved a strategic restructuring, transferring the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) Unit directly to the Office of the Comptroller General from the Tariff and Trade Department. This pivotal unit, now elevated in status, will be headed by an Assistant Comptroller General, ensuring stronger oversight, increased efficiency, and alignment with the Service’s commitment to excellence in operational standards.

“To safeguard operational continuity and preserve the wealth of institutional knowledge amid the retirement of numerous senior officers, a 12-month service extension has been granted to selected distinguished senior officers representing the six geopolitical zones of the Federation.  The extension of service for these officers, ratified by the Board meeting, follows the Presidential approval for the measure meant to address the current high rate of NCS management turnover.

“The officers granted this esteemed extension include Assistant Comptrollers-General B Imam (North-East), IG Umar (North-West), KC Egwu South-East) as well as Comptrollers F. Abdulqadri (North-Central), MT Awe South-West, and OF Ojiefor (South-South).”

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, on behalf of the NCSB, congratulates all newly appointed, promoted, and retained officers, urging them to uphold the Service’s core mandates and pursue excellence.

He extends warm Christmas and New Year wishes to all and expresses deep gratitude to the Honorable Minister of Finance for ensuring the timely conclusion of the 2024 promotion cycle. In celebration of this milestone, the CGC also reaffirms the Service’s commitment to fostering a motivated workforce with assured career progression and a steadfast focus on excellence.