President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a further six-month extension of tenure for Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
In a statement issued on Friday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, explained that Adeniyi’s initial extension, granted in July 2025, was due to expire on August 1, 2026.
The new directive extends his leadership until February 2027.
According to Onanuga, the extension is intended to allow Adeniyi to consolidate the implementation of the National Single Window project — a key reform aimed at streamlining trade processes — and to ensure an orderly succession within the Customs Service.
Adeniyi, a career customs officer, has overseen significant reforms since his appointment in June 2023, including modernization initiatives designed to enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the Service. His continued leadership is expected to strengthen institutional capacity and provide stability during the transition period.
“During the transition period, Adeniyi, working with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Board, will ensure the promotion of eligible officers to the rank of Comptroller of Customs and the compulsory retirement of officers who have attained 60 years of age or have served 35 years,” the statement reads.
“Adeniyi joined the Customs Service after graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University in the late 80s.
“He rose through the ranks, becoming deputy comptroller in 2012, comptroller in 2017, assistant comptroller general in 2020, acting deputy comptroller-general in January 2023, before his appointment by President Tinubu in June 2023 as the Comptroller General.”
On October 19, 2023, President Tinubu confirmed Adeniyi as the substantive CG of customs. He had previously served in an acting capacity after taking over from his predecessor, Hameed Ali, in June.
His initial tenure was due to end on August 31, 2025, after he completed 35 years of service.
However, the president extended his tenure by one year, which is expected to lapse in August 2026.
The Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 empowers the president to appoint a career officer not below the rank of assistant comptroller-general as CG, but it does not prescribe a fixed statutory term of office.
The tenure is governed by the extant provisions of the public service rules (PSR), under which civil servants retire at 60 years of age or after 35 years of pensionable service, whichever comes first.
