The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dismissed claims that it is experiencing manpower shortages. This follows observations that some Area Commands are headed by Deputy Controllers of Customs (DCs), describing the arrangement as a deliberate leadership development and institutional sustainability strategy.
Speaking with Shipping Position Daily in response to enquiries on the matter, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, clarified that only a small fraction of the Service’s Area Commands are currently led by Deputy Controllers, contrary to allegations that “many” commands are so headed, due to alleged personnel constraints.
Maiwada disclosed that the Nigeria Customs Service has over 40 Area Commands nationwide, stressing that only five of these commands are headed by Deputy Controllers of Customs.
According to him, the commands currently under the leadership of DCs are KLT, Idiroko Area Command, Kano Area Command, Kwara Area Command, and Oyo/Osun Area Command, representing a minor proportion of the Service’s total command structure.
“The first question you raised was whether the Service is short of manpower. The answer is no,” Maiwada stated. “Out of over 40 Area Commands in the Nigeria Customs Service, only five are headed by Deputy Controllers.”
He explained that the majority of Customs formations across the country are still headed by Controllers of Customs, while several other offices within the Service also remain under senior officers of controller rank.
Maiwada cautioned against drawing conclusions that could misinform the public, emphasizing the need for data-backed analysis rather than assumptions.
“We want to be very scientific and talk with data,” he said, adding that the leadership arrangement should not be misinterpreted as a structural weakness within the Service.
Explaining the rationale behind the postings, the Customs spokesperson described the deployment of Deputy Controllers to head some Area Commands as a mentorship and succession-planning strategy designed to prepare ‘younger officers’ for higher leadership responsibilities.
According to him, the approach is intentional and aimed at ensuring continuity and long-term institutional stability within the Service.
“It is a mentorship strategy to build the younger ones and prepare them for leadership positions. It is not until the older generation leaves before you start subjecting those expected to be future leaders to responsibility,” Maiwada explained.
He noted that exposing Deputy Controllers to the demands of leading Area Commands equips them with the experience required to effectively manage the Service when they eventually assume higher positions.
“You have to mentor. You have to try. It is not a matter of shortage or anything like that. It is a deliberate, strategic effort to ensure institutional sustainability,” he said.
Maiwada stressed that the postings were neither accidental nor driven by necessity, but rather part of a conscious leadership development framework adopted by the Nigeria Customs Service.
“It is a deliberate and intentional effort to ensure service sustainability,” he reiterated.
