Customs Strengthens Partnership with ICPC to Enhance Ethics Compliance, Institutional Integrity
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reinforced its partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to improve ethics compliance and institutional integrity.
The partnership was renewed when the NCS hosted a high-level delegation from the ICPC for the deployment of the Ethics and Compliance Scorecard (EICS) and the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) Effectiveness Index (AEI) at the Service Headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
This engagement underscores the commitment of the Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, to institutional integrity, ethical compliance, and improved service delivery in line with federal anti-corruption directives.
Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG) in charge of the headquarters, Isah Umar, who represented CGC Adeniyi described the exercise as a welcome initiative and reaffirmed the Service’s readiness to partner with the ICPC in strengthening its internal systems.
“This is an important oversight process to evaluate ethics and integrity levels across government agencies. For us in the Nigeria Customs Service, it aligns with our broader reforms aimed at ensuring professionalism, accountability, and citizen-focused service delivery.
“We have carefully reviewed the requirements of this assessment and assembled all relevant documentation. We invite the ICPC team to critically review them, and we remain open to collaboration for continuous improvement,” Umar stated.
The Comptroller of Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU), Emmanuel Oshoba, and the Comptroller of Special Duties, Hannel Hadison, also noted that the NCS has institutionalised its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) across its commands and formations.
They explained that active desk officers within the unit are driving anti-corruption messaging, monitoring compliance, and promoting transparency within the Service.
Similarly, the Team Lead of the ICPC delegation, Umar Sani, affirmed that the deployment of the EICS and AEI tools is part of the Commission’s annual preventive strategy for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure adherence to ethical standards.
“The deployment of the Ethics and Compliance Scorecard and the ACTU Effectiveness Index is a preventive tool to ensure MDAs, including the Nigeria Customs Service, are compliant with institutional ethics and procedures.
“It also evaluates transparency and accountability structures and assesses the strength of internal systems,” Sani said.
He pointed out that the EICS evaluates MDAs using four major components, including management structure and culture, financial management systems, administrative systems, and the ACTU effectiveness index
He stressed that the ACTU, domiciled in all MDAs, plays a crucial role in sensitising staff against corruption and reporting unethical practices through structured channels in collaboration with the ICPC.
