By Harriet Tornguvan
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has emphasised the central role of intelligence in modern customs operations, charging officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to make timely, credible and well-applied intelligence the foundation of their professional duties.
Adeniyi gave the charge at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, during the opening ceremony of a training programme for CIU officers, describing the exercise as the Service’s first formal engagement of the year and a defining moment for participants’ professional outlook.
Welcoming the officers to the College, the CGC said the programme was taking place at a critical period, urging participants to see the new year as an opportunity to make measurable contributions to the growth of the Service and national development.
Reflecting on recent global and domestic security developments, he referenced ongoing military and security interventions, including operations within Nigeria that led to the interception of arms and ammunition. According to him, intelligence remains the common denominator behind every successful military and paramilitary operation, stressing that Customs officers must understand its value beyond theoretical knowledge.
He encouraged participants to revisit earlier papers presented during the programme, noting that they contained practical insights essential for effective intelligence-driven field operations.
In his address, the Commandant of the NCCSC, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs Dow Gaura, described intelligence as a silent but decisive force in institutional transformation, noting that the capacity to gather, analyse and deploy intelligence has become indispensable in addressing emerging security and economic challenges.
ACG Gaura said the Nigeria Customs Service has continued to invest in intelligence-led training as part of its broader capacity-building strategy, adding that the programme represents a critical phase in the professional development of participating officers.
He explained that intelligence plays a key role in risk management, revenue protection, the disruption of smuggling networks and the safeguarding of the national economy. He urged officers to approach the training with dedication and discipline, assuring them that Management had provided experienced facilitators, relevant materials and a structured learning environment to ensure meaningful outcomes.
While acknowledging that the training environment might differ from what some participants were accustomed to, he noted that the approach was designed to enhance focus, discipline and professional growth.
Senior officers present at the opening ceremony included the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, Tijjani Abe; the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Sulaiman Chiroma; and the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shu’aibu, among others.
