CSOs Hail Customs CG Over Reforms, Revenue Drive

A coalition of 37 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has commended the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for what it described as transformative reforms and improved revenue generation within the Service.

The groups, which addressed journalists in Abuja, also passed a vote of confidence on Adeniyi, dismissing allegations and media reports against him as unfounded attempts to undermine ongoing reforms at the Customs Service.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Amadi Chinda of the Initiative for Community Development said the organisations carried out an independent assessment of the NCS under Adeniyi’s leadership and found significant progress in transparency, accountability and operational efficiency.

According to him, the reforms introduced by the Customs boss have repositioned the Service for higher productivity and strengthened its contribution to national revenue generation.

“We deemed it necessary to address Nigerians after carefully reviewing the activities of the Nigeria Customs Service under CG Adeniyi. Our findings show that he has demonstrated professionalism, patriotism and commitment in repositioning the Service for effective service delivery,” Chinda said.

The coalition alleged that individuals affected by anti-smuggling operations and efforts to block revenue leakages were responsible for recent attacks against the Customs leadership.

“We discovered that those sponsoring blackmail campaigns against the Comptroller-General are people whose illicit activities and economic sabotage have been disrupted by the reforms introduced by the Service,” he stated.

The CSOs noted that the current management of the NCS has strengthened trade facilitation, improved collaboration among stakeholders and intensified anti-smuggling operations across the country.

They said the agency’s reform agenda, built around consolidation, collaboration and innovation, has enhanced revenue collection while reducing loopholes previously exploited to divert government funds.

“It is important to note that since CG Adeniyi assumed office, the Service has recorded unprecedented achievements and consistently surpassed revenue targets assigned to it,” the coalition added.

The groups further commended the Service for supporting regional and international trade integration, improving institutional capacity building and introducing measures aimed at reducing the cost of doing business in Nigeria.

The coalition urged Nigerians to support ongoing reforms at the Customs Service and disregard what it described as deliberate misinformation targeted at discrediting the agency’s leadership.