The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Ahmed Adeniyi has emerged as the Public Sector Global ‘CEO of the week’ for this week. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR is a seasoned Nigerian law enforcement agent, with over 3 decades of experience in the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS). He was appointed the substantive Comptroller General on October 19, 2023, after serving in an acting capacity for 5 months.
He climbed the managerial ladder serving in various capacities. Adeniyi notably served as the Deputy Comptroller General, working in hand with the then CGC Hammed Aliu for most of his bold and transforming policies and initiatives.
Additionally, he also served as the National Public Relations Officer for eight conservative years (2003-2011), where he set the record as the longest-serving officer in that role.
Adeniyi’s illustrious career is marked by remarkable achievements, including winning the Comptroller-General of Customs Award in January 2020 for seizing $8,065,612 million cash at Murtala Mohammed International Airport.
He was as well recognized for his outstanding contributions, where he was conferred the National Honour of Member of the Order of Federal Republic (MFR) by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Adeniyi’s efforts to enhance collaborations among agencies led to partnerships with the Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, and other ministries in creating and enforcing policies for national benefit. His ‘Revenue Recovery Exercise’ launched in 2023 recorded a revenue recovery of over 17 billion naira within four months, drawing acclaim from fellow agencies.
In November 2023, Adeniyi announced a 66.5% increase in monthly revenue collection between July and October 2023. NCS raked in an average revenue of N202 billion in the first half of the year, and by October, the monthly revenue surged by 66.5% amounting to a substantial N333.9 billion.
The surge in revenue collection according to him is attributed to the collaborative efforts of the Service and the National Assembly, leading to the review and enhancement of tariff structures and regulations.
Adeniyi’s administration leverages on technology, including scanners amongst other advanced devices in streamlining cargo clearance processes and combat contraband effectively.
With his mandate to enforce the interception of contraband such as illegal drugs and weapons, he has undertaken various such activities with the recent in January 28, 2024, were his team intercepted 5 pistols, cocaine and Colorado worth N4.279 Billion. Similarly in November 2023, the Service intercepted tramadol worth N3.5 Billion.
He made headlines with the interception of contraband valued at over N900 million and the generation of over N74 billion from January to October 2023.
Under Adeniyi’s administration, the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Area Command (KLTC) of the Nigeria Customs Service also disclosed a generated revenue of 63.4 billion naira in 2023, which is a 19% increase from records in 2022.
Adeniyi’s administration has been characterized with excellence in efficient and timely collection and accounting for revenue. Through his usual activities, he has shown dedication in promoting trade facilitation as he enforces the adaptation of the new norm ‘digitization’ to enable more efficient and faster activities.
Adeniyi obtained a Bachelor of Science in International Relations from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in June 1987 and Master of Arts in Communication Science in November 2013 from the Universitaire Svizzera D’Italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland.
The highly rated CEO of the week is a weekly accreditation of top-performing CEOs whose policies and leadership have brought transformation to society. This publication is targeted at showcasing the achievements of CEOs across the world.
