NCS Graduates Senior Officers from Advanced Customs Operations Course at NIIA, Reaffirms Commitment to Capacity Building
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated its unwavering commitment to continuous capacity development, with the graduation of senior officers from the inaugural Senior Executive Course in Complex Customs Operations held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.
The graduation ceremony, which took place on Friday, 11 July 2025, marked a significant milestone in the Service’s strategic efforts to deepen professional competence and adapt to the evolving global customs and trade environment.
In his address, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, underscored the unique nature of the training programme, noting that it represents a new tier of development for senior officers poised to lead reforms within the Service.
“We have structures for basic training, refresher courses, and command and staff college programmes, but this is a different level,” the CGC stated. “With trainings like this, we expose our officers to global best practices, the dynamics in international trade, and how it affects their job on a day-to-day basis.”
He further revealed that the just-concluded course would be critically reviewed before another edition is launched, saying, “We will do some evaluation. We will assess what worked, what didn’t work during the course, and what components we can add or subtract. So that will determine, actually, when we can do the second batch.”
Describing the participants as “accomplished customs officers,” the CGC expressed confidence in their ability to serve as catalysts for positive transformation within the NCS. “They are the future of the service. I expect they will be ambassadors of positive changes in the service,” he added.
The Director-General of the NIIA, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, lauded the Nigeria Customs Service for prioritising human capital development, emphasising the broader implications for institutional and national advancement.
“This is not just for the participants; it’s for the Service. The CGC has just been elected as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO), acknowledging what the Service stands for,” he noted. “So this is part of the process of strengthening the capacity of the NCS for better delivery, especially in the light of the more complex and increasingly more challenging circumstances under which they have to operate.”
Graduating participants expressed their appreciation to the Customs leadership for the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and strategic insights into customs operations in a global context.
The course, hosted by the NIIA in collaboration with the NCS, is part of a broader initiative to prepare senior officers for high-level responsibilities and foster a culture of excellence and innovation within the Service.
