In an era of complex security threats and sophisticated smuggling networks, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has made it clear that intelligence is no longer optional—it is the engine that drives effective customs operations. He charged officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit to place intelligence at the core of their duties, stressing that no modern revenue or security system can succeed without timely, credible, and well-applied intelligence.
The charge was delivered at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada, during the opening of a specialised training programme for CIU officers. Described as the Service’s first formal engagement of the year, the programme was positioned as a defining moment for participants and a tone-setter for the year ahead.
Addressing the officers, Adeniyi urged them to see the new year as a fresh opportunity to deliver measurable results for the Nigeria Customs Service and the nation. Drawing from recent global and domestic security operations—including successful interceptions of arms and ammunition within Nigeria—he noted that intelligence remains the common denominator behind every effective intervention.
He emphasised that intelligence must move beyond theory and classroom discussions into practical, field-based application. According to him, the knowledge already shared during the programme offers actionable guidance that officers must internalize and deploy in real-life operations.
Also speaking at the event, the Commandant of the College, Assistant Comptroller General Dow Gaura, described intelligence as a quiet but decisive force that shapes institutional effectiveness. He said the capacity to gather, analyse, and deploy intelligence has become critical in responding to evolving security, trade, and economic challenges.
Gaura noted that intelligence-driven operations underpin risk management, revenue protection, the disruption of smuggling networks, and the safeguarding of the national economy. He explained that the training reflects the Service’s sustained investment in intelligence-led capacity building and forms a key part of the professional development of participants.
Officers were urged to approach the programme with discipline and focus, as management had provided experienced facilitators, relevant materials, and a structured learning environment to maximise outcomes. While acknowledging that conditions at the College might differ from what some participants were used to, he said the goal was to strengthen concentration, professionalism, and operational readiness.
The opening ceremony was attended by top management officials, including the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Human Resources Development, Tijjani Abe; the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Training and Doctrine Command, Sulaiman Chiroma; and the Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shu’aibu, among other senior officers.
