Nigeria Customs Service is about to lose a small army.
Two restricted circulars just confirmed it: 1,516 officers nationwide will retire over the next two years. 825 in 2026.
Another 691 in 2027. From Deputy Comptroller-General down to Customs Assistant II, no rank is spared.
It’s not politics. It’s math. And 16 years of silence.
—“Statutory, not succession”—
The notices came in Circular HRD/2025/048 dated Sept 19, 2025 for 2026 retirees, and Circular HRD/2026/020 dated May 26, 2026 for 2027. Both signed by Comptroller A.A. Bazuaye for the DCG, HRD.
Affected officers must proceed on 3-month pre-retirement leave per Public Service Rule 100238. The 2027 list also opened a complaint window until July 31, 2026 for errors or omissions.
—Who’s leaving?—
2026’s 825 exits are led by Deputy Superintendent of Customs – 285 officers, then Superintendent – 226. Big names include DCGs Omale who retired June 7, Nnadi March 3, Chiroma Sept 23, plus Adeola Mrs and Niagwan due Dec 23.
Several ACGs like Egwuh, Umoh, Mohammed, Abe, Olomu, Olaniyan, Yusuf are also on the list.
2027’s 691 retirements hit Superintendent cadre hardest – 200 officers, then Deputy Superintendent – 193. Deputy Customs Officers – 81 and Chief Superintendent – 68 follow.
—“We created this bottleneck ourselves”—
House of Reps Customs Committee Chairman, Abejide Leke Joseph, killed the rumour that this was about CG Adeniyi’s successor.
“Retirement after 35 years or age 60 is by law, not compulsion,” he said. “Suggestions that officers are being forced out for new appointments are false.”
His diagnosis: a 16-year recruitment freeze. Service numbers 41000, 42000, 43000 rose together, stayed stuck together, and now retire together. The result: a top-heavy service with too many senior officers hitting the exit at once.
“More than 1,500 officers will retire under PSR 100238. This is natural, legally mandated,” Abejide stressed.
—Adeniyi gets six months to manage the transition—
President Bola Tinubu just extended CG Adewale Adeniyi’s tenure by 6 months to Feb 2027. The reason: finish the National Single Window reform and “ensure orderly succession”.
During the extension, Adeniyi will work with the Customs Board to promote eligible officers to Comptroller and enforce compulsory retirement for those at 60 years/35 years service.
Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada hadn’t responded on replacement plans as of press time. [Rewritten report sourced from THE PUNCH]
