The Nigerian Customs Service has announced the promotion of 2,634 senior officers and support staff, effective from January 1st 2019, while also punishing two Assistant Comptrollers General, ACG Aminu Dahiru and ACG Bashir Abubakar, with dismissal for act of serious misconduct, and compulsory retirement for act of negligence respectively. “From now, we are moving forward, and we must work hard and ensure that we pass our exams and remain of good character. That way, I assure you, that the sky is your limit. Let me also say this, that of recent, probably you have seen that we have taken some disciplinary measures that affect the members of the Management…With great power comes great responsibility…” These are the words of the Comptroller General of Customs, Hammeed Ali, speaking during the presentation of ranks to senior officers recently. He charged the newly promoted Officers to double their efforts and maintain discipline in discharging their statutory functions.

The Nigerian Customs Service, via a press release on 22nd of July 2020, signed by the Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Joseph Attah, on behalf of the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hammeed Ali, read as follows.

“Nigerian Customs Service Board (NCSB) at its 52nd Regular Meeting, approved the appointment of five (5) Assistant Comptrollers General of Customs, promotion of 2,634 Officers, dismissal of one Assistant Comptroller General, and compulsory retirement of one Assistant Comptroller General.

“Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and chairman Nigerian Customs Service Board, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed who presided over the meeting, said decisions taken during the meeting were meant to ginger and move the service forward in terms of manpower and operations.

“The new Assistant Comptrollers General of Customs are:

1. ACG, Mohammed Boyi — Doctrine Development
2. ACG, Adéwálé Adéníyì — Commandant C & SC Gwagwalada
3. ACG, Jack Ajoku — Strategic Research and Policy
4. ACG, Olakunle Oyekunle — Training and Coordination
5. ACG, Elton Edorhe — Zonal Coordination, Zone ‘C’

“Breakdown of the 2,634 Officers whose promotion have 1st January, 2019 as effective date is as follows:

• Deputy Comptrollers of Customs to Comptrollers of Customs = 37
• Assistant Comptrollers of Customs to Deputy Comptrollers of Customs = 110
• Chief Superintendents of Customs to Assistant Comptrollers of Customs = 138
• Superintendents of Customs to Chief Superintendents of Customs = 93
• Deputy Superintendents of Customs to Superintendents of Customs = 93
• Assistant Superintendents of Customs I to Deputy Superintendents of Customs = 1224
• Assistant Superintendents of Customs II to Assistant Superintendents of Customs I = 475
• Inspector of Customs to Assistant Superintendents of Customs II = 464
• 205 support staff who also enjoyed promotion to various ranks.

“In line with the reform agenda, the Board took some disciplinary actions against two senior officers. The ACG Aminu Dahiru was dismissed for act of serious misconduct; while ACG Bashir Abubakar was compulsorily retired for act of negligence.

The honourable minister described the Nigerian Customs Service as making progress and expressed the hope that the coming of the e-Customs will help NCS operations.”””””

The NCS, led by the tough, no-nonsense Comptroller-General Colonel Hammeed Ali, has been one of the most improved agencies of the Federal Government since 2016. The Comptroller-General had improved both the image of the Service, and the financial remittances. The hallmark of the CG of Customs has been discipline.