Customs Boost Succession Plan With Leadership Training

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified efforts to strengthen its succession planning and leadership development by commencing a Strategic Refresher Course for 100 deputy comptrollers, aimed at preparing the next generation of senior officers for higher responsibilities.

The workshop, organised by the Service’s Human Resources Development Department in collaboration with the Customs Police Unit, commenced on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, Abuja.

The training is designed to equip participants with the strategic leadership, management and operational skills required to effectively drive the Service’s ongoing reforms and improve institutional performance.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, described the initiative as a key component of the Service’s succession strategy, stressing that developing competent leaders remains essential to sustaining reforms and enhancing operational efficiency.

Represented by deputy comptroller-general Suleiman Chiroma, Adeniyi said the course reflects the Service’s commitment to building a pool of capable officers ready to assume greater leadership responsibilities.

He urged participants to approach the programme with dedication and professionalism, noting that the knowledge and skills acquired would enhance their capacity to tackle emerging challenges in customs administration.

The commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Assistant Comptroller-general Oluyomi Adebakin, said the refresher course was carefully designed to bridge leadership and operational gaps among senior officers.

According to him, the programme will expose participants to contemporary issues in customs administration, strategic decision-making, policy implementation and institutional leadership, enabling them to contribute more effectively to the Service’s transformation agenda.

He encouraged the officers to actively participate in all sessions and leverage the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and strengthen collaboration across commands.

The Strategic Refresher Course forms part of the Nigeria Customs Service’s broader human capital development agenda aimed at ensuring leadership continuity, improving institutional capacity and positioning the Service to meet evolving national and global trade facilitation and border security demands.