The Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, on Thursday, 5 February 2026, inaugurated a combined cohort of 100 officers, comprising 50 participants for Senior Course 14 and 50 for Junior Course 24. The initiative underscores the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to strengthening operational efficiency and cultivating strategic leadership across its ranks.
The ceremony, held at Ahmad Makarfi Hall of the College, marked the official commencement of the courses, which will run for six months for Senior Course participants and three months for those in the Junior Course.
Addressing the officers and members of the Directing Staff, the Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Sulaiman Chiroma, speaking on behalf of Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi, described the inauguration as more than an academic event. He said it represents a critical milestone in the Service’s transition from operational efficiency to strategic leadership development.
“The management of the Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of the Comptroller-General, has continued to commit significant resources to strengthening the Command and Staff College and its programmes,” DCG Chiroma said. “The impact of these courses will soon reflect in officers’ career progression and institutional performance.”
He further explained that participation in command courses is increasingly becoming a prerequisite for career advancement, urging officers to see their nomination as both a privilege and a responsibility earned through a selective process. DCG Chiroma stressed that modern customs administration demands officers who are operationally competent and strategically grounded, advising participants to uphold integrity, accountability, and professionalism.
“The College remains a vital platform for equipping middle-level managers with the skills required to function in an increasingly complex security and economic environment, particularly as the Nigeria Customs Service prepares to operate within a new national revenue framework,” he added.
In his remarks, the Commandant of NCCSC, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Dow Gaura, highlighted the College as a centre for capacity building, leadership development, and professional training for middle-level managers. ACG Gaura noted that the current courses are designed to prepare officers for higher responsibilities by strengthening competencies in leadership, policy analysis, communication, and inter-agency cooperation skills crucial for addressing emerging national and global challenges.
He urged participants to demonstrate discipline, punctuality, adaptability, and a strong appetite for learning, emphasising that “academic excellence, integrity, and professionalism remain non-negotiable standards within the College.” ACG Gaura assured officers of the guidance and mentorship available from instructors and directing staff throughout the programme and encouraged participation in sports and recreational activities to promote physical fitness and mental well-being.
The Commandant also reiterated the College’s zero-tolerance stance on academic misconduct, including plagiarism and examination malpractice, advising officers to comply strictly with institutional rules and responsibly utilise Service resources.
The courses were formally declared open, with ACG Gaura congratulating participants and expressed confidence that the training would be both impactful and enriching, preparing them as capable leaders ready to drive institutional reforms and support national economic objectives.
