Customs Chief Adeniyi Wins FiBOP Leadership Award as NCS Embraces Tech-Driven Trade Reforms
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has received the Transformative Reforms and Leadership Excellence Award from the Finance and Business Online Publishers (FiBOP) for his role in reshaping customs administration, advancing trade facilitation and driving institutional reform.
The award was presented at FiBOP’s 2026 Annual Conference in Lagos last weekend.
According to the citation, Adeniyi was recognised for modernising the Service through technological innovation, greater transparency, stronger revenue generation and reforms designed to ease international trade.
Since taking office, he has sought to move the NCS beyond its traditional revenue-collection role toward a more technology-driven institution centred on trade facilitation and border security.
Key initiatives cited include the Authorised Economic Operator scheme and the Time Release Study, both aimed at speeding up cargo clearance, reducing port delays and lowering the cost of doing business.
The citation also highlighted the phased rollout of the Unified Customs Management System, which is intended to automate operations, reduce human intervention and promote accountability.
On border security, it noted the deployment of non-intrusive inspection technology, improved intelligence sharing among security agencies and intensified anti-smuggling operations to curb illicit trade, protect local industries and strengthen security along Nigeria’s borders and trade corridors.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Comptroller-General, Deputy Superintendent of Customs at the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, AbdulGaniy Oloro Usman, thanked FiBOP for recognising Adeniyi’s contributions and said the NCS remained committed to working with the media and stakeholders in the maritime, manufacturing and international trade sectors. He added that sustained cooperation would help accelerate Nigeria’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy.
The recognition comes as the Service continues efforts to modernise operations, improve trade efficiency and strengthen international trade’s contribution to national economic development.
