The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has organized a five-day Leadership Retreat for newly promoted Comptrollers to equip them with essential skills for effective service delivery and strategic leadership.
The retreat, which commenced on February 18, 2025, at the Ahmad Makarfi Hall of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, was a collaboration between the Department of Human Resources Development and the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).
Declaring the retreat open, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, delivered a lecture titled “The Strategic Environment and Effective Service Delivery in the Nigeria Customs Service.” He emphasized that Comptrollers, now operating at the management level, play a critical role in driving policy implementation and decision-making at various command levels.
“You have moved to this particular stage in service—more or less, you are now operating at the management level. For all you know, this is the last promotable rank you get, and because we interact with other members of society, you must know your roles at that level,” Adeniyi told the participants.
He further urged the newly promoted Comptrollers to take a keen interest in the welfare of their subordinates, stressing that leadership requires both technical expertise and a strong sense of responsibility. He also called for continuous training, capacity-building, and upholding the integrity of the Service.
In his remarks, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs (DCG) Sulaiman Chiroma, Commander of TRADOC, highlighted the retreat’s significance in shaping the leadership capabilities of the newly promoted officers. He described it as a strategic investment in the future of the Service, enhancing their ability to navigate modern Customs operations.
The retreat featured various lectures from resource persons, including Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, the NCS National Public Relations Officer, who spoke on “Stakeholder Management, Media Relations, and Employee Engagement. DCG Greg Itotoh, in charge of Human Resources Development, lectured on “Team Building, while ACG Isah Umar discussed “Integrity and Transparency.
Additionally, Prof. Hamid Sulaiman delivered a lecture on “Public Policy Management and Leadership Challenges, while Comptroller Naf’iu Isyaku provided insights on “Customs Import and Export Process and Procedure.
The final day of the retreat focused on leadership ethics, stakeholder engagement, and national security. Comptroller Haniel Hadison, in charge of Special Duties, presented a lecture on *Regimentation in the Nigeria Customs Service, urging officers to uphold discipline and avoid political activities. Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, also delivered a lecture on “Border Crisis and National Security: An Appraisal, analyzing border security challenges and the role of Customs in economic and national security.
Closing the retreat on behalf of the CGC, DCG Greg Itotoh congratulated the newly promoted officers and encouraged them to uphold professionalism and integrity in their roles. He reiterated that the knowledge gained should be applied to enhance Customs operations and trade facilitation in the country.