President Bola Tinubu has extended the tenure of Nigeria’s Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of Customs, by one year to allow him consolidate reforms and complete key trade initiatives and allied tech upgrades, the Presidency says.
Adeniyi, whose appointment was due to expire on August 31, 2025, will now remain in office until 2026. The extension was approved “to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete critical initiatives of this administration,” according to a statement signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Tinubu’s directive focuses on three national priorities under Adeniyi’s leadership which are the modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service, implementation of the National Single Window Project, and execution of Nigeria’s obligations under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol.
The Presidency describes Adeniyi’s stewardship as marked by “steadfast leadership and commitment to service,” and expresses confidence that the extension “will further strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service in achieving its strategic mandate of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and border security.”
Since his appointment in June 2023, Adeniyi has overseen an ambitious reform drive that includes digitising customs operations, increasing revenue collection, and overhauling legacy processes. Customs revenue rose sharply under his leadership. According to the Service, the agency generated ₦6.1 trillion in revenue, exceeding its target by over 20 percent and marking a 90.4 percent increase over the previous year.
Adeniyi also led the launch of the new Unified Customs Management System, known as B’Odogwu, which replaced the legacy NICIS II platform. In April 2025, the system processed its first Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR), streamlining trade documentation and integrating customs processes with commercial banks for real-time forex valuation.
International recognition of Adeniyi’s leadership grew in parallel with domestic reforms. On July 1, 2025, he assumed office as Chairperson of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, becoming the first Nigerian to lead the global body. The WCO, which comprises 186 member states, cited Nigeria’s reforms and Adeniyi’s role in driving digital transformation and trade facilitation as factors in his election.
The National Single Window Project, which has faced years of delay, is expected to consolidate Nigeria’s fragmented port processes into a single digital platform, cutting clearance times and reducing corruption.
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