Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR.

BY FRANCIS EZEM

There was a combination of apprehension and excitement across Nigeria’s entire supply chain following reports that President Bola Tinubu has approved the retirement of Service Chiefs, Inspector General of Police and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service. While the statement issued by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, announced clearly the retirement of the Comptroller General of the service in the first paragraph, it failed to say who the replacement was until the second to the last paragraph, a development that made most shipping and maritime stakeholders apprehensive and were therefore kept in suspense.

Even in the second to the last paragraph where the statement said: “Finally, the President has approved the appointment of Adeniyi Bashir Adewale as the Ag. Comptroller General of Customs”, many were still confused because the household name in the industry has been “Wale Adeniyi”. However, the appointment of this quintessential and thorough-bred officer to superintend over the service has been received with a heavy sigh of relief not only for the officers and men of the service but also among stakeholders and the entire supply chain in the country. For many, it marks the end of eight long years of suppressed anger and peace of the graveyard. For several others, it marks the return of professionalism and hierarchy, for which the regimented service is known, while many see the appointment as the best made by President Tinubu so far.

DCG Wale Adeniyi, definitely needs no introduction in Nigeria’s shipping and maritime circles. A media colleague of mine called me late last night when the news of his appointment broke to ask: ‘is he not the former PRO?’ But I am not sure this my colleague knows or remembers name of any CG of the service.

With over 30 years of experience in Customs administration covering Strategic and operational responsibilities, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR dsm fnipr psc(+), possess deep understanding of the complex and constantly evolving international trade landscape.

Currently an acting Deputy Comptroller- General of the service, who grew through the ranks, DCG Adeniyi has over time garnered strong command of Customs’ regulations, laws, processes and procedures as well as the ability to navigate and adapt to changing policies and regulations. As a former image maker of the service, he has demonstrated excellent communication and leadership skills responsible for leading teams of customs officials, working closely with stakeholders across a variety of industries.

Given these backgrounds, he has built strong relationships with stakeholders and collaborated effectively to ensure efficient and effective movement of goods across borders, all through the course of his career. He has a keen eye for details and ability to identify potential risks and areas of non-compliance.

This is evident in the effective risk management strategies, guidance and support developed and implemented for his teams to ensure that all customs procedures are followed accurately and efficiently. He is an ardent believer in promoting trade and economic growth while ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations. A consummate and award-winning officer, he is known to maintain the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. He is also committed to continuously improving his knowledge and skills to stay ahead of the ever-changing Customs landscape across the globe.

DCG Adeniyi demonstrated his nature as integrity-personae as the Customs Area Controller at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport MMIA, Lagos command when he seized $8.065 million in cash in January 2020 and therefore raised the performance bar at the command. This sterling performance earned him the Comptroller General’s Award.

Like the popular saying that there is no hiding place for the golden fish, it was not difficult for the global Customs regulatory body, the World Customs Organisation WCO to pick him out of the global crowd and honoured him with the Award of Excellence as Project Team Leader, Securité Par Collaboration (SPC++), a Customs Regional Security Project in January 2018 in recognition of his superlative performance.

He is also a Joint winner of Burson –Marsteller Award for the Best Research Project on “Reputation Management in Nigeria Customs Service” in partial fulfilment for the award of Masters of Science in Communications, USI, Lugano Switzerland in November 2013.

 Little wonder therefore that Nigeria’s immediate past President, Mohammadu Buhari GCFR in October 2022 singled him out for the conferment of National Honour of Member of the Order of Federal Republic MFR Award in recognition and appreciation of his meritorious service to his fatherland and always making the country proud at the global commerce and trade arena.

As the longest serving National Public Relations Officer of the service, since successive Comptrollers General considered him most suitable for the job and would therefore not let him go, DCG Wale Adeniyi has the unbroken record of emerging the best Customs Public Relations Officer from 2004 – 2007.

He is equally a winner of the prestigious Large College Crest Award for Excellence in Service as Deputy Commandant, NCCSC Gwagwalada in December 2019 and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Presidential Award in April 2018.

Unarguably, his suitability and preparedness for the job is not in doubt, as stakeholders have severally and roundly described him as a square peg in a square hole, especially given his track record. But as the saying goes, no one can successfully clap with one hand, and that no man is an island unto himself. Stakeholders across board therefore need to cooperate and rally round him in an effort to rebuild the ailing supply chain in the country. One might probably be living in self-denial if you do not expect some crucial reforms that would reposition the industry towards achieving the desired efficiency. There is definitely an arduous task ahead, but together, it is surmountable.