Joyce Mmereole OkoliThe Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has declared that intelligence remains the backbone of effective modern-day Customs operations, urging officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) to place it at the heart of their professional duties.
Speaking on Monday, 5 January 2026, at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, during the opening of a specialised training programme, the CGC underscored that no contemporary security or revenue operation can thrive without timely, credible and well-utilised intelligence.
Describing the programme as the Service’s first formal engagement of the year, Adeniyi said the initiative was strategically positioned to shape the professional trajectory of participants. He encouraged the officers to view the new year as an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the Service and the nation.
Reflecting on global and local security situations, the CGC cited recent military and security operations including domestic interceptions of arms and ammunition as evidence that intelligence is the decisive factor behind successful enforcement outcomes.
He urged participants to revisit earlier presentations delivered in the programme, noting that the materials contained practical guidance essential for real-world operations.
Commandant of the NCCSC, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs Dow Gaura, also emphasised the transformative power of intelligence, describing it as a “quiet but decisive force” driving institutional efficiency.
Gaura noted that the ability to collect, analyse and apply intelligence had become indispensable in addressing emerging security and economic threats. He highlighted the Service’s continuous investment in intelligence-led training as a core pillar of capacity building.
According to him, intelligence drives risk management, revenue protection, the dismantling of smuggling networks, and overall economic security. He urged the officers to take the training seriously, assuring them that Management had provided experienced facilitators, essential materials and a focused learning environment to maximise outcomes.
While acknowledging that some participants might find the environment more demanding than their usual routines, the ACG said the structure was intentional designed to build discipline, resilience and sharper concentration.
Present at the opening ceremony were senior officers, including the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, Tijjani Abe; Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of TRADOC, Sulaiman Chiroma; and the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shu’aibu, among others.