Customs Task Senior Officers on Eliminating Internal Weaknesses

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has tasked senior officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to confront internal weaknesses slowing down the agency’s efficiency.

Speaking in Abuja at the opening of the CGC’s Conference, Adeniyi said the Service must apply the same discipline and coordination that delivered the successful Customs Partnership for African Cooperation in Trade (C-PACT) Summit to its internal operations.

A statement issued on Sunday by the NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, says the conference, themed “Building Future Partnerships: Lessons from the Customs-PACT Conference,” aims to address operational gaps, review current challenges, and set strategic reforms that will enhance Customs’ performance.

Adeniyi reminded officers that the Service had just concluded a major continental engagement that brought together customs chiefs, private-sector leaders, and regional representatives from across Africa.

“You can’t sustain external credibility without internal integrity,” he warned. “Turn the mirror inward and force honest discussions about what is working, what is failing, and what must change.”

He explained that the principles behind the C-PACT Summit’s success, unified messaging, disciplined execution, teamwork, and swift conflict resolution must be embedded into the NCS culture to strengthen service delivery.

Adeniyi also highlighted how the Service held 16 consecutive weeks of preparatory meetings, aligned communications with AfCFTA, swiftly resolved internal disputes, and maintained unity of purpose .

The two-day conference featured panel discussions, technical presentations, and open dialogue sessions where, Adeniyi, maintained that “ideas will matter more than rank.”