President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a one-year extension of service for the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose current tenure was due to expire on August 31, 2025.

The extension was announced on Thursday via an official statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the presidency, the decision to extend Adeniyi’s tenure was driven by the need to ensure continuity in the implementation of critical reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service and to consolidate on the gains recorded under his leadership.

“President Tinubu has extended the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, by one year. This extension will allow him to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete major initiatives central to the administration’s trade and economic agenda,” the statement read.

Since assuming office, Adeniyi has spearheaded a series of structural and operational reforms aimed at modernizing the Nigeria Customs Service and aligning it with global standards. These reforms include; the modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service, with a focus on automation, digitization of processes, and enhanced service delivery, the implementation of the National Single Window Project, an initiative aimed at streamlining trade processes and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks through an integrated electronic trade platform, the execution of Nigeria’s obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol, which seeks to improve intra-African trade and create a unified market for goods and services across the continent.

The presidency emphasized that Adeniyi’s continued leadership is vital to the successful execution of these initiatives, which are closely tied to the administration’s broader economic transformation strategy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Track Record and Appointment History

Bashir Adeniyi was appointed Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service by President Tinubu in October 2023, after serving in an acting capacity for several months. He took over from the former CG, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd.), who retired in June 2023 after serving in the role for eight years.

Prior to his appointment, Adeniyi had built a long-standing career within the NCS, holding various strategic positions, including as the Customs Public Relations Officer and Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada. His tenure has been marked by a renewed focus on transparency, staff welfare, inter-agency collaboration, and the deployment of technology to combat smuggling and revenue leakage.

According to Onanuga, the President has expressed satisfaction with Adeniyi’s performance so far, particularly his commitment to service, accountability, and institutional reforms.

“The President recognises Adeniyi’s steadfast leadership and unwavering dedication to national service. He is confident that this extension will further strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service in achieving its strategic mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and border security,” Onanuga stated.

With this extension, Adeniyi is now expected to remain at the helm of the Customs Service until August 31, 2026, barring any further decisions by the presidency.

As Nigeria grapples with the twin challenges of economic recovery and trade competitiveness, the Customs Service plays a pivotal role in driving revenue growth, protecting national borders, and enabling a business-friendly environment.

Adeniyi’s extended mandate is seen as a strategic move by the Tinubu administration to ensure stability within one of the country’s most critical revenue-generating institutions and to sustain momentum in trade reforms aimed at positioning Nigeria as a regional hub for commerce and logistics.