By Nkechi Eze
The Comptroller-General of Customs, CGC Adewale Adeniyi, has charged officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit of the Nigeria Customs Service to place intelligence at the very centre of their professional conduct, warning that no modern security or revenue operation can succeed without timely, credible and well-applied intelligence. He said intelligence has become the defining factor that separates reactive enforcement from proactive, results-driven operations in today’s complex security and economic environment.
Adeniyi gave the charge on Monday, 5 January 2026, at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, during the opening ceremony of a specialised training programme for CIU officers. Describing the exercise as the Service’s first formal engagement of the year, the Comptroller-General said the programme was not only symbolic but also strategic, noting that it had the potential to shape the professional outlook, discipline and effectiveness of the participating officers.
Welcoming the officers to the College, the CGC said the timing of the programme was critical, urging participants to see the new year as an opportunity to make tangible and measurable contributions to the Service and to national development. He stressed that intelligence work demands a higher sense of responsibility, discretion and professionalism, as the quality of intelligence gathered and applied often determines the success or failure of operations in the field.
Reflecting on recent global and domestic security developments, Adeniyi referenced military and security interventions across different regions, including operations within Nigeria that resulted in the interception of arms and ammunition. He noted that despite differences in theatres and mandates, intelligence remained the common thread behind every successful military or paramilitary operation, adding that Customs officers must appreciate the value of intelligence beyond classroom theory.
The Comptroller-General urged participants to revisit papers already presented during the programme, pointing out that they contained practical guidance required for effective intelligence-led field operations. According to him, the responsibility of intelligence officers goes beyond information gathering to accurate analysis, timely dissemination and ethical application in support of national security, revenue protection and trade facilitation.
In his address, the Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs Dow Gaura, described intelligence as a quiet but decisive force in institutional transformation. He said the ability to gather, analyse and apply intelligence has become indispensable in responding to emerging security threats, economic crimes and the increasingly sophisticated nature of smuggling networks.
ACG Gaura explained that the Nigeria Customs Service has consistently invested in intelligence-led training as part of its broader capacity-building strategy, describing the programme as a critical phase in the professional development of the participating officers. He noted that intelligence underpins key Customs functions such as risk management, revenue protection, disruption of illicit trade networks and the safeguarding of the national economy.
Urging officers to approach the training with seriousness and commitment, the Commandant said Management had deliberately provided experienced facilitators, relevant training materials and a structured learning environment to enhance focus and outcomes. While acknowledging that comfort levels might differ from what some participants were accustomed to, he said the approach was intentional and designed to instil discipline, concentration and professionalism required for intelligence duties.
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, Sulaiman Chiroma; and the Assistant Comptroller General of Customs in charge of Headquarters, Muhammad Shu’aibu, among others.
