The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has strengthened its drive to build a future-ready workforce with the graduation of senior officers from the Advanced Senior Executive Course on Strategic and Trade Foresight, organised in partnership with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
The graduation ceremony, held on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the NIIA in Lagos, underscored the Service’s commitment to equipping its senior officers with the strategic skills needed to navigate the rapidly evolving global trade and customs landscape.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, the Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, described the programme as a deliberate investment in developing the next generation of Customs leaders capable of driving institutional transformation.
“Customs operations globally are dynamic and constantly evolving. We must remain forward-looking and prepared for future challenges. This programme reflects the Service’s commitment to grooming officers who can anticipate change and respond effectively to emerging realities,” Aliyu said.
He explained that the course was designed to shape the strategic direction of the Nigeria Customs Service between 2026 and 2035, in line with its vision of building a resilient, innovative and globally competitive institution that will continue to lead in trade facilitation, customs modernisation and regional integration.
Aliyu noted that the initiative complements the Comptroller-General’s mentor-mentee programme, stressing that the graduating officers are expected to transfer the knowledge acquired to other personnel across the Service.
“The officers are graduating as ambassadors of the Bashir Adeniyi Centre for International Trade and Investment (BACITI) and the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. They are expected to mentor future generations of Customs officers by cascading the knowledge gained through this programme. It is a win-win for the Nigeria Customs Service and the wider trade ecosystem,” he added.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, described the graduation as a major milestone in the strategic partnership between the Institute and the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to him, the programme was conceived to strengthen the Service’s capacity to respond to the complexities of global commerce, evolving tariff regimes and the increasing demands of trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“This initiative is about building the capacity of the Service to reposition itself for changing times, the complexities of global trade, evolving customs administration and the growing need for standardisation of customs operations,” Osaghae said.
He commended Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi for championing the initiative, noting that his emphasis on strategic foresight and capacity development has enhanced the Nigeria Customs Service’s international profile and positioned it to respond proactively to emerging trends in global trade and border management.
Leave a Reply