The Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Adewale Adeniyi, has charged officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to prioritise intelligence-led operations in the discharge of their duties.
CGC Adeniyi warned that no modern security or revenue operation can succeed without timely, credible and well-applied intelligence.
He made the remarks during the opening ceremony of a training programme for CIU officers at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, on Monday, January 5, 2026.
Adeniyi described the training programme as the Service’s first formal engagement of the year and a moment that could shape the professional outlook of participants.
While welcoming officers to the College, the Customs boss acknowledged that the programme came at a critical time, urging participants to see the new year as an opportunity to make tangible contributions to the Service and the country.
Reflecting on recent global and domestic security developments, Adeniyi referenced military and security interventions across different regions, including operations within Nigeria that led to the interception of arms and ammunition.
He disclosed that intelligence remains the common thread behind every successful military or paramilitary operation, stressing that Customs officers must appreciate its value beyond theory.
CGC Adeniyi further encouraged participants to revisit papers earlier presented during the programme, noting that they already contained practical guidance required for effective field 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.
ACG Gaura explained that the ability to gather, analyse, and apply intelligence has become indispensable in responding to emerging security and economic realities.
He revealed that the NCS has consistently invested in intelligence-led training as part of its capacity-building strategy, describing the programme as a key phase in the professional development of participants.
The ACG emphasised that intelligence underpins risk management, revenue protection, the disruption of smuggling networks and the protection of the national economy.
He enjoined officers to approach the training with seriousness, noting that the management had provided experienced facilitators, relevant materials, and a structured learning environment to enhance focus and outcomes.
Gaura also affirmed that comfort levels might differ from what some participants were used to, adding that the objective was to instill discipline and concentration.
Senior officers were present at the opening ceremony, including the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, Tijjani Abe; the 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.
