The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has underscored intelligence as a critical pillar of modern customs administration, urging officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to fully integrate intelligence tools into their daily professional practice.
Adeniyi gave the charge on January 5, 2026, at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, during the opening ceremony of a specialised training programme for officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU).
Describing the programme as the Service’s first formal engagement of the year, the CGC said it was a strategic platform capable of shaping the professional outlook and operational effectiveness of participants.
He noted that the timing of the training was significant, as it aligned with the Service’s renewed commitment to improved performance and national development in the new year.
Welcoming the officers, Adeniyi urged them to see the year ahead as an opportunity to make measurable contributions to the Nigeria Customs Service and the country at large.
He emphasised that intelligence should not be viewed merely as a theoretical concept but as a practical tool that must guide decision-making and field operations.
Drawing from military and security operations in different regions, including within Nigeria, the Customs boss referenced successful interventions that led to the interception of arms and ammunition.
According to him, intelligence remains the common denominator behind every effective military and paramilitary operation, stressing that Customs officers must adopt the same intelligence-led mindset in combating smuggling, illicit trade and other cross-border crimes.
Adeniyi further encouraged participants to carefully revisit papers already presented during the programme, noting that they contained practical insights and operational guidance essential for success in the field.
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In his remarks, the Commandant of the NCCSC, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Dow Gaura, described intelligence as a quiet but decisive force in institutional transformation.
He said the ability to gather, analyse and apply intelligence has become indispensable in responding to evolving security threats and economic challenges.
ACG Gaura explained that the Nigeria Customs Service has continued to prioritise intelligence-led training as part of its broader capacity-building strategy, describing the programme as a crucial phase in the professional development of officers.
He added that intelligence underpins risk management, revenue protection, the disruption of smuggling networks and the safeguarding of the national economy.
He urged participants to approach the training with utmost seriousness, assuring them that Management had provided experienced facilitators, relevant instructional materials and a structured learning environment to ensure meaningful and impactful outcomes.
Senior officers present at the opening ceremony included the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, Tijjani Abe; the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Sulaiman Chiroma; and the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shu’aibu, among others.