Adeniyi To Retain Position As Tinubu Extends Customs CG’s Tenure By Another Six Months

By Rotela Oguns

Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), will not be handing the reins of leadership of the agency to another person in line this year as initially anticipated by the public.

This is as President Bola Tinubu extended the customs CG’s tenure for another six months.

This development was dísclosed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the president, in a statement issued on Friday.

According to the statement, Onanuga noted that Adeniyi’s first tenure extension granted in July 2025 ought to have expired on August 1, 2026.

He added that the six-month extension, which will expire in February 2027, is to enable the NCS boss to consolidate the implementation of the national single window and ensure an orderly succession in the service.

“During the transition period, Adeniyi, working with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Board, will ensure the promotion of eligible officers to the rank of Comptroller of Customs and the compulsory retirement of officers who have attained 60 years of age or have served 35 years,” the statement reads.

“Adeniyi joined the Customs Service after graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University in the late 80s.

“He rose through the ranks, becoming deputy comptroller in 2012, comptroller in 2017, assistant comptroller general in 2020, acting deputy comptroller-general in January 2023, before his appointment by President Tinubu in June 2023 as the Comptroller General.”

Recall that on October 19, 2023, President Tinubu confirmed Adeniyi as the substantive CG of customs.

He had previously served in an acting capacity after taking over from his predecessor, Hameed Ali, in June.

His initial tenure was due to end on August 31, 2025, after he completed 35 years of service.

However, the president extended his tenure by one year, which is expected to lapse in August 2026.

The Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 empowers the president to appoint a career officer not below the rank of assistant comptroller-general as CG, but it does not prescribe a fixed statutory term of office.

The tenure is governed by the extant provisions of the public service rules (PSR), under which civil servants retire at 60 years of age or after 35 years of pensionable service, whichever comes first.