The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has intensified efforts to strengthen institutional leadership capacity with the commencement of a strategic training programme for senior officers at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The programme, known as the Senior Customs Command and Leadership Course, Batch A, began on Monday, February 3, 2026, and is aimed at preparing officers for higher responsibilities amid evolving security, operational and trade facilitation challenges.
Speaking during the session on Tuesday, February 4, 2026, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, described the course as a critical investment in the future of the Service. He noted that leadership is exercised at every level of the NCS and warned against the gradual erosion of institutional standards, values and accountability as experienced officers retire from the system.
Adeniyi explained that the course was deliberately structured to test the character, competence and discipline of participants, stressing that leadership exposes both strengths and weaknesses.
He cautioned officers against personalising authority, hoarding knowledge or engaging in unhealthy competition, noting that strong institutions are built on shared purpose, continuity and mentorship.
According to him, leadership effectiveness at senior levels is determined more by character than technical knowledge, adding that authority amplifies behaviour and reveals an individual’s true values under pressure.
He urged participants to embrace self-reflection, discipline and ethical conduct as essential tools for effective leadership.
The Comptroller-General further described the training as a defining moment in the Service’s history, noting that the quality of future leadership within the NCS would depend largely on the decisions, mindset and discipline of officers currently undergoing the programme.
The course features intensive sessions on key leadership competencies, including integrity, emotional intelligence, effective communication, strategic thinking, business acumen and stakeholder management.
Participants also examined teamwork dynamics using the 4×100-metre relay race as a leadership case study, highlighting the importance of synergy, timing, coordination and collective responsibility.
Discussions during the training further explored how poor teamwork can create hostile and counterproductive work environments, while identifying essential elements of high-performing teams such as shared mindset, mission clarity, effective methods, movement, communication and leadership by example.
Adeniyi challenged participants to justify the Service’s investment in their development by translating the knowledge gained into measurable results, building strong teams and preparing future leaders within the organisation.
He congratulated the officers on attaining a major career milestone and encouraged them to fully engage with the programme, apply its lessons diligently and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the Nigeria Customs Service.
