The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken a bold step towards strengthening institutional capacity with the graduation of senior officers from the inaugural Senior Executive Course in Complex Customs Operations, held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.
The ceremony, which took place on Friday, July 11, 2025, was attended by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who reaffirmed the Service’s strategic commitment to advanced training and human capital development.
In his remarks, CGC Adeniyi said the training represented “a different level” of professional development aimed at equipping senior officers with tools to address evolving challenges in global trade, security, and customs administration.
“We have structures for basic training, refresher courses, and command and staff college programmes, but this is a different level. With trainings like this, we expose our officers to global best practices and the dynamics in international trade that impact their daily duties,” he stated.
The CGC revealed that a comprehensive review of the programme would precede the rollout of a second batch, with focus on curriculum evaluation and lessons learned from the pioneer edition.
“We will assess what worked, what didn’t work, and what we can improve. That will guide the timing and structure of the next course,” he said.
He praised the graduating officers as accomplished professionals who would serve as agents of transformation within the Service.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the NIIA, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, commended the Customs leadership for prioritising intellectual and strategic capacity. He noted that the programme aligns with broader national goals, especially as the CGC recently assumed the role of Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO).
“This isn’t just for the participants—it’s for the Service and, indeed, the nation. This kind of strategic training is essential as Customs officers face more complex and dynamic operating environments,” Professor Osaghae remarked.
Some of the graduating officers expressed deep appreciation to the Customs management for the opportunity to enhance their professional competence and pledged to apply their knowledge in advancing the Service’s mission.
