Ahmadu Shuaibu: Nigeria Customs’ Unyielding Sentinel of Integrity and Enforcement

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

ACG Shuaibu been decorated with his new rank, recently by the Minister of Finance and the CGC.

In the annals of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), few names evoke the same reverence and admiration as Ahmadu Bello Shuaibu. Recently elevated to the rank of Assistant Comptroller General (ACG), Shuaibu’s career is a master class in discipline, integrity, and transformative leadership.

The Enforcement Maestro

From his early days as a cadet in 1991 to his recent appointment as ACG, Shuaibu has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Customs mandate. His enforcement credentials are legendary. As Coordinator of the defunct Headquarters Strike Force Zone A, and later Area Controller of Ogun I and Ogun II Commands, respectively, he led operations that not only disrupted smuggling networks but also redefined excise control and revenue re-engineering; in addition to a remarkable reinvention  in the relationship between Customs and border communities.

ACG Shuaibu, second from left, in a group photograph with colleague DCGs and ACGs after their decoration at Abuja.

Shuaibu also became the Nigeria Customs official face that identified with beauty and the natural arts, providing platforms for the exhibition of natural arts in the promotion of community crafts.

At Federal Operations Unit Zone B Kaduna, and later as Comptroller Enforcement Headquarters, Shuaibu’s strategic acumen and operational precision earned him the reputation of an “anti-smuggling czar.” His tenure was marked by spectacular seizures, including arms, ammunition, questionable funds and endangered wildlife products worth billions of naira.

Perhaps, something also very striking about ACG Shuaibu is the fact of his unremiting team work spirit, as part of his work culture in leadership position. He is a pheniomenal team player any less he’s the centre striker; and does not fail in appreciating his deputies, surbodinates and work force at every important moments.

Of loyalty, sincere and deep seated loyalty, Shuaibu is second to none. He recognizes the place of natural fallibility in the affairs of men and is never a man to begrudge missed opportunity, flashes of officicial gaps or recognition. He takes  everything in a good stride, believing in God for all favours and or lack of one.

Peace Building at the Border

Perhaps one of Shuaibu’s most enduring legacies is his transformation of Idiroko, once a volatile flashpoint between Customs and local communities. Through humility, outreach, and strategic engagement, he turned a war zone into a model of peaceful coexistence. He supported education initiatives, empowered youth through entrepreneurship, and fostered mutual respect between officers and residents.

A Chronicle of Service

The administrator doing the explaining at some point during his field days

Shuaibu’s career spans over three decades, touching every geopolitical zone of Nigeria. From Borno/Yobe Command to Tin-Can Island Port, and from FOU Zone C to MMIA, his postings reflect a deep understanding of Nigeria’s complex trade landscape. He is the only Deputy Comptroller in NCS history to take over a Command from a Comptroller, hand over to another, and still return to lead again. His refusal of a ₦2 billion bribe during his time at the CGC Strike Force Zone A is a testament to his incorruptible character.

Lifelong Learner, Global Thinker

Born in Zungeru, Niger State, Shuaibu is not just a field officer but a scholar of enforcement. He has trained at elite institutions including the Law Enforcement Academy in Roswell, USA, and Advanced Law Enforcement Course in Botswana. His emphasis on collaboration, inter-agency synergy, and stakeholder engagement reflects a modern, inclusive approach to Customs administration.

ACG Shuaibu: The Legacy Continues

As he steps into his new role as Assistant Comptroller General, Shuaibu carries with him a legacy of excellence, courage, and nation-building. His story is not just one of personal achievement but a blueprint for ethical leadership in public service.

In the words of those who served under him, “He came, saw, and conquered”—leaving behind not just footprints, but a golden path for others to follow.