Nigeria Customs Moves Beyond Operations, Launches Strategic Leadership Training for 100 Officers
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken another decisive step toward institutional reform and leadership succession as the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, on Thursday, 5 February 2026, inaugurated 100 officers for advanced command and leadership training.
The combined cohort comprises 50 participants for Senior Course 14 and 50 for Junior Course 24, a move underscoring the Service’s renewed emphasis on grooming officers not just for operational efficiency but for strategic leadership roles within a rapidly evolving security and economic environment.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Ahmad Makarfi Hall of the College, marked the formal commencement of the programmes, which will run for six months for Senior Course participants and three months for Junior Course participants.
Addressing the officers and directing staff, the Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Sulaiman Chiroma, speaking on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the event as a defining moment in the Service’s leadership development agenda.
“This inauguration is more than the commencement of an academic programme. It marks a critical milestone in the Service’s transition from operational efficiency to strategic leadership development,” DCG Chiroma said.
He noted that the management of the Nigeria Customs Service has continued to invest heavily in strengthening the NCCSC and its programmes, adding that the outcomes of the courses would soon be evident in officers’ career progression and overall institutional performance.
“The management of the Nigeria Customs Service, under the leadership of the Comptroller-General, has continued to commit significant resources to strengthening the Command and Staff College and its programmes,” he stated. “The impact of these courses will soon reflect in officers’ career progression and institutional performance.”
DCG Chiroma further disclosed that participation in command courses would increasingly become a prerequisite for career advancement, urging the officers to view their nomination as both a privilege and a responsibility earned through a deliberate and selective process.
Charging participants to fully engage with the training, he stressed that modern Customs administration requires officers who are not only operationally sound but also strategically equipped.
“Modern Customs administration demands officers who are not only operationally competent but also strategically grounded,” he said.
He added that the College remains critical to preparing middle-level managers to function effectively within a complex national and global environment, particularly as the Service positions itself within a new national revenue framework.
“The College remains a vital platform for equipping middle-level managers with the skills required to function in an increasingly complex security and economic environment,” DCG Chiroma noted.
He urged officers to embody leadership defined by integrity, discipline, sound judgment and adherence to the core values of the Service, advising them to conduct themselves as officers and gentlemen both within and outside the College.
He expressed confidence that the participants would emerge as capable leaders ready to drive reforms and support national economic objectives.
In his remarks, the Commandant of the College, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Dow Gaura, reaffirmed the NCCSC’s role as a hub for leadership development and professional capacity building within the Service.
He explained that the Command and Leadership Courses are designed to prepare officers for higher responsibilities by strengthening competencies in leadership, policy analysis, communication and inter-agency cooperation—skills he described as essential for navigating emerging national and global challenges.
“The College has remained a centre for capacity building, leadership development, and professional training for middle-level management officers,” ACG Gaura said.
He urged participants to uphold discipline, punctuality, adaptability and a strong appetite for knowledge, stressing that “academic excellence, integrity and professionalism remain non-negotiable standards within the College.”
While assuring officers of the full support of instructors and directing staff, the Commandant also encouraged participation in sports and recreational activities to promote physical fitness and mental well-being.
ACG Gaura issued a stern warning against academic misconduct, including plagiarism and examination malpractice, stating that the College maintains a zero-tolerance policy for such infractions.
“I urge you to comply strictly with the rules and regulations of the institution, responsibly utilise resources provided by the Service, and protect the College environment,” he cautioned.
He formally declared Senior Course 14 and Junior Course 24 open, congratulated the participants and expressed confidence that the programmes would be impactful and enriching, wishing them a successful academic journey.
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