Maritime stakeholders have praised President Bola Tinubu’s six-month extension of Customs Comptroller-General Bashir Adeniyi’s tenure, saying it will strengthen reforms and ensure a smooth leadership transition.

The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) and the Nigeria Association of Master Mariners (NAMM) expressed their views in separate interviews on Sunday in Lagos.

The Head of Research at SEREC, Dr Eugene Nweke, described the extension as a strategic opportunity to deepen institutional reforms and strengthen succession planning within the Customs Service.

According to him, the service recorded significant progress in revenue generation, trade facilitation, stakeholder engagement, digital transformation and implementation of the National Single Window (NSW) project under Adeniyi’s leadership.

Mr Nweke said effective leadership should be measured by the strength of institutions, succession planning and the entrenchment of integrity, rather than operational achievements alone.

He noted that Mr Adeniyi’s election as Chairman of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council further elevated Nigeria’s position in global customs administration.

“The extension ensures continuity in Nigeria’s global customs responsibilities while providing an opportunity to leverage the experience gained at the WCO. This is to strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service and enhance Africa’s voice in global customs governance,” he said.

Mr Nweke urged the Customs management and the Nigeria Customs Service Board to prioritise merit, professionalism, competence and ethical standards as senior officers retire and others are promoted.

He said the remaining tenure should be used to institutionalise transparency, accountability, discipline and ethical leadership across the service in line with the Arusha Declaration on Integrity.

According to him, Customs should also consolidate gains recorded under the National Single Window project, deepen stakeholder engagement and strengthen inter-agency collaboration.

He said, “History will judge this extension not by the additional months granted, but by the institutional legacy of integrity, succession planning and service excellence produced.”

Also, President of the Nigeria Association of Master Mariners (NAMM), Capt. Tajudeen Alao, said the service had surpassed its revenue targets under the present leadership.

Mr Alao said the customs service recorded successes in intercepting illegal arms and supporting efforts to curb illicit drug trafficking through ports and border stations.

He said the implementation of the National Single Window initiative as a major boost to trade facilitation and cargo clearance at Nigerian ports.

According to him, Mr Adeniyi’s emergence as Chairman of the WCO council further enhanced Nigeria’s international profile.

“All these transformations are positive developments that justify the extension. Why replace a member of a winning team, especially when the election cycle is less than 12 months away?” he said.

Mr Tinubu on June 19 approved a six-month extension of Mr Adeniyi’s tenure, allowing him to remain in office until February 2027.

The extension followed the expiration of his statutory tenure scheduled for August 1, 2026.

According to the presidency, the extension will enable the customs chief to complete implementation of the National Single Window project, a flagship trade facilitation initiative aimed at improving efficiency in Nigeria’s import and export processes.

The additional period will also allow the comptroller-general to work with the Nigeria Customs Service Board on critical personnel matters, including promoting qualified officers to the rank of Comptroller.

The exercise will also facilitate the retirement of officers who have attained the statutory retirement age of 60 years or completed 35 years in service.

The presidency said the measures were intended to ensure an orderly succession process and sustain ongoing institutional reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service. 

(NAN)