President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a one-year extension to the tenure of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, allowing him to remain in office until August 2026.
Adeniyi was initially due to complete his tenure by August 31, 2025, but the latest decision from the presidency prolongs his leadership by another year. The announcement was made on Thursday in an official statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, the extension is intended to enable Adeniyi to build upon ongoing institutional reforms and drive the successful implementation of several priority projects aligned with the Tinubu administration’s economic and trade agenda.
Among the key initiatives highlighted are the continued modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service, the effective rollout of the National Single Window Project, and the fulfillment of Nigeria’s obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
“President Tinubu recognises Mr. Adeniyi’s steadfast leadership and commitment to service,” the statement read. “The President is confident that this extension will further strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service in achieving its strategic mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and border security.”
Bashir Adewale Adeniyi officially became the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service in October 2023 following his earlier appointment in an acting capacity. He succeeded Hameed Ali, the former CG, in June 2023 and was later confirmed as the substantive head of the agency.
Since assuming office, Adeniyi has championed reforms aimed at digitizing customs operations, improving border control mechanisms, and aligning the agency’s procedures with international trade standards. His leadership has been commended by various stakeholders for fostering efficiency, transparency, and greater revenue mobilisation.
With this new mandate, Adeniyi is expected to consolidate the gains recorded so far and steer the Customs Service through the critical next phase of its transformation under the Tinubu-led administration.
What You Should Know
Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s extended tenure as Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service marks a strategic move by President Tinubu to reinforce continuity in one of Nigeria’s key revenue-generating agencies.
Since taking office, Adeniyi has initiated sweeping reforms focused on automation, trade facilitation, and international compliance.
His extension is not merely ceremonial — it positions him to complete significant projects like the National Single Window, which aims to streamline port operations and reduce corruption.
It also signals the administration’s trust in his leadership during a time when Nigeria is under pressure to meet trade and economic targets across Africa through frameworks like the AfCFTA.
