The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has charged officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to place intelligence at the core of their professional conduct, stressing that no modern security or revenue operation can succeed without timely, credible and well-applied intelligence.
Adeniyi gave the charge on Monday, 5 January 2026, at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, during the opening ceremony of a training programme for CIU officers. He described the programme as the Service’s first formal engagement of the year and a critical opportunity to shape the professional outlook of participants.
Welcoming the officers, the CGC said the programme came at a crucial time, urging participants to see the new year as an opportunity to make measurable contributions to the Service and the nation. He referenced recent global and domestic security developments, including operations within Nigeria that led to the interception of arms and ammunition, noting that intelligence remained the common denominator behind every successful military or paramilitary operation.
According to him, intelligence must be appreciated beyond theory, as it directly determines success in the field. He advised participants to revisit earlier papers presented during the programme, describing them as rich sources of practical guidance for effective operations.
In his address, the Commandant of the NCCSC, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs Dow Gaura, described intelligence as a quiet but decisive force in institutional transformation. He said the capacity to gather, analyse and apply intelligence had become indispensable in addressing emerging security and economic challenges.
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ACG Gaura noted that the Nigeria Customs Service had consistently invested in intelligence-led training as part of its broader capacity-building strategy, describing the programme as a key phase in the professional development of the participants. He explained that intelligence underpins risk management, revenue protection, disruption of smuggling networks and the safeguarding of the national economy.
He urged officers to approach the training with seriousness and discipline, assuring them that Management had provided experienced facilitators, relevant materials and a structured learning environment to ensure effective outcomes. While acknowledging that the training environment might differ from participants’ usual comfort levels, he said the objective was to enhance focus and professionalism.
Senior officers present at the opening ceremony included the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, Tijjani Abe; the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of TRADOC, Sulaiman Chiroma; and the Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shu’aibu, among others.
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