Nigeria Customs Service Invests in Leadership as Senior Officers Undergo Strategic Training
By Queen Abayomi
Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, has inaugurated a combined total of 100 officers for its Senior Course 14 and Junior Course 24, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen leadership capacity and enhance operational effectiveness within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Ahmad Makarfi Hall of the College, saw 50 officers enrolled for the six-month Senior Course 14 and another 50 for the three-month Junior Course 24.
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Speaking at the event, the Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Sulaiman Chiroma, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the programme as a significant step in the Service’s shift from operational efficiency to strategic leadership development.
DCG Chiroma said the NCS leadership has continued to invest heavily in strengthening the Command and Staff College, noting that participation in command courses would increasingly become a key requirement for career advancement.
He urged the officers to see their selection as both a privilege and a responsibility earned through a deliberate and competitive process.
According to him, modern customs administration requires officers who are not only technically proficient but also strategically minded, capable of operating effectively within an increasingly complex security and economic environment.
He further charged participants to imbibe the values of integrity, accountability and professionalism, and to apply the knowledge gained to advance institutional performance and national economic objectives.
Also speaking, the Commandant of NCCSC, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Dow Gaura, reaffirmed the College’s role as a centre for leadership development and capacity building for middle-level management officers.
He explained that the Command and Leadership Courses are structured to prepare officers for higher responsibilities by enhancing skills in leadership, policy analysis, communication and inter-agency collaboration, all of which are critical to addressing emerging national and global challenges.
He also urged participants to demonstrate discipline, punctuality, adaptability and a strong commitment to learning, stressing that academic excellence, integrity and professionalism remain non-negotiable standards at the College. While assuring them of adequate mentorship from instructors and directing staff, he encouraged participation in sports and recreational activities to promote physical and mental well-being.
The Commandant therefore cautioned against academic misconduct, including plagiarism and examination malpractice, reiterating the College’s zero-tolerance policy on such infractions.
He finally formally declared the courses open and expressed confidence that the officers would emerge better equipped to assume leadership roles and contribute meaningfully to reforms and efficiency within the Nigeria Customs Service.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, FEBRUARY 7TH 2026)
