CUSTOMS INTENSIFIES REVENUE DRIVE AS BOARD CONFIRMS NEW MANAGEMENT APPOINTMENTS
Customs Intensifies Revenue Drive as Board Confirms New Management Appointments
By Babatunde Aremu
The *Nigeria Customs Service Board, NCSB*, at its *65th Regular Meeting* held on *Tuesday, September 2, 2026*, chaired by the *Honorable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Professor Taiwo Oyedele*, has approved major appointments and reviewed the Service’s revenue performance.
In a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer, *Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada on Saturday, September 6, 2026*, the Board confirmed the appointment of *one Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, DCG, and five Assistant Comptroller-Generals of Customs, ACGs*.
The appointments, made in accordance with the Federal Character Policy as provided in *Section 14(4) of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023*, following the statutory retirement of some members, are:
1. *DCG Constantine Dim* – South-East
2. *ACG Pascal Chibuoke* – South-East
3. *ACG Sani Yahaya* – North-Central
4. *ACG Franklin Onyeka* – South-South
5. *ACG Chibuzor Eyakwaire* – South-South
6. *ACG Ethelbert Nnaji* – South-East
The Board also approved the *upgrade of the NCS Medical Corp to a Sub-department* to be headed by an Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs and assisted by nine Comptrollers.
On recruitment, the Board was briefed that successful candidates have been invited for *documentation, physical, and medical screening* scheduled to commence on *September 7, 2026*.
The Board deliberated on disciplinary appeals and resolved cases including *dismissal, exoneration, warning, compulsory retirement, and reinstatement* of affected officers.
The Board reviewed the Service’s revenue performance for *2026* against an annual target of *N11.074 trillion*.
As at *end of June 2026*, collections stood at *N4.30 trillion*, representing *36.4 percent* of the annual target.
The Board noted intensified efforts through the full deployment of the
*Unified Customs Management System, B’Odogwu*, expanded post-clearance and real-time audit, the Authorised Economic deployment of geospatial technology, joint border patrols, and deeper engagement with the trading community.
Based on the report of the Technical and Operations Committee, the Board approved the *Nigeria Customs Service De-Minimis Regulation, 2025*, to align with the NCS Act, 2023.
The Board was also updated on ICT digital transformation initiatives recording substantial progress across trade systems, HR automation, NII infrastructure, and digital applications.
It also received an invitation from the Federal Ministry of Finance* for memoranda proposing amendments to the Nigeria Customs Service Act for possible inclusion in the *2027 Finance Bill*
