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Lagos, June 24, 2026, The Customs Consultative Committee (CCC) has expressed concern over growing controversy on leadership succession in the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), warning that politicisation threatened institutional stability and discipline.
The committee stated its position on Wednesday in Lagos.
The Secretary, Mr Eugene Nweke, said that discussions on the next Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) were increasingly driven by politics.
While noting that Nigerians were entitled to opinions on appointments, the CCC said it was destabilising for public office holders to suggest that succession in a disciplined institution was subject to political influence.
Nweke stressed that the NCS was not a political constituency but a statutory institution governed by law, procedures, hierarchy, and professional traditions developed over decades adding that leadership emergence should remained institutional, not political.
He expressed concern over some public office holders speaking authoritatively on matters within the President’s constitutional powers and NCS governance structures. Such actions could create uncertainty, undermine discipline, and erode morale among officers.
The CCC secretary said legislative oversight should not be mistaken for authority to influence, announce, or personalise appointments in agencies under supervision, oversight and administration were different functions, and blurring them breeds distrust.
He said that committee condemned introducing regional, ethnic, and political narratives into succession matters that should be governed by merit, competence, integrity, and national interest adding that strategic institutions thrive only when appointments were seen as fair and transparent.
He noted that the NCS has a serving Comptroller General whose tenure was extended by the President to consolidate reforms, including the National Single Window project and succession management adding that stakeholders should allowed leadership to function without distraction.
He expressed the committee stand cautioning against premature succession campaigns or speculative declarations creating
“Comptroller General-in-waiting” impression. Such narratives harm discipline, foster rivalries, weaken command structures, and create tension within the service, he said.
Nweke highlighted international implications, noting that Nigeria chairs the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council, the highest global customs decision-making body, so the country should exemplified integrity, professionalism, transparency, and good governance.
He observed that the global customs community monitors members, especially WCO leaders, perceptions of political interference could diminish confidence in NCS governance and project a negative image of Nigeria’s public administration standards.
Nweke said that the Nigeria’s WCO role offers opportunity to showcase best practices in succession management, institutional continuity, and administrative discipline.
” Avoidable controversies should not overshadow NCS progress in modernisation, trade facilitation, and international cooperation.
“The CCC called on political actors, public office holders, and stakeholders to exercise restraint and allow due process in succession matters.
“The Comptroller General’s office is too important to economic security and border management for speculation,” He said.
Nweke urged statesmanship over partisanship, institutional loyalty over personal loyalty, and constitutional order over grandstanding adding that NCS integrity would be preserved not by loud voices, but by commitment to due process and rule of law.
The CCC secretory said that the future of the NCS should be determined by law, competence, integrity, and national interest, not political influence or sectional considerations. The world is watching Nigeria’s transition

PTML unveils $50m port
expansion plan, Minister reaffirms maritime hub vision
Lagos, June 24, 2026, Port and Terminal Multiservices Ltd., (PTML) has said its proposed a $50 million investment to expand its terminal, Managing Director Ascanio Russo, said Tuesday in Abuja.
Russo disclosed the planned investment during a visit to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, according to a statement issued Wednesday in Lagos.
The Special Adviser to the Minister, Dr Bolaji Akinola, said in a statement made available to media on Wednesday.
confirmed the development, noting that the investment targets infrastructure upgrade, efficiency boost, and trade facilitation.
Russo said the investment would support Nigeria’s ambition of becoming the leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa through expanded capacity.
He stated that PTML, a member of Grimaldi Group, would expand berthing capacity and acquire additional state-of-the-art port equipment at Tin Can Island.
“The Grimaldi Group remains deeply committed to Nigeria and firmly believes in the country’s potential as the leading maritime and logistics gateway,” Russo said.
“This proposed investment of $50 million is designed to position PTML for the future by expanding our berthing capacity and deploying modern equipment,” he added.
He explained that expanded facilities would enable PTML to receive next-generation Container/Roll-on Roll-off (Con-Ro) vessels, including the largest Con-Ro ships operating globally.
Russo noted that the maritime industry is evolving rapidly, with larger and more efficient vessels becoming the standard for international trade and logistics.
He said through this expansion, PTML would be fully equipped to accommodate next-generation Con-Ro vessels, ensuring Nigeria remains competitive and attractive globally.
The PTML boss described the project as a direct response to Federal Government’s call for increased private-sector participation in port infrastructure modernisation.
He highlighted expected economic benefits, including facilitated trade, increased cargo throughput, employment opportunities during construction and operational phases, and higher government revenue generation.
Responding, Oyetola welcomed the proposed investment, describing it as a strong vote of confidence in ongoing Federal Government reforms transforming the maritime sector.
The minister reiterated government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for private investment, ensuring Nigerian ports become preferred hubs for shipping and logistics.
Oyetola said the Federal Government was implementing measures to improve port efficiency, reduce bottlenecks, enhance infrastructure, and strengthen ease of doing business nationwide.

Customs FOU Zone ‘C’ Intercepts 3,310 Jerrycans of Smuggled Vegetable oil
Lagos, June 15, 2026, The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone C, Owerri, has announced a significant enforcement success following the interception of 3,310 Jerry can of smuggled foreign vegetable oil.

The Comptroller of the Unit, Bishir Balogun, made the disclosure in statement made available to newsmen in Lagos on Monday.
Balogun attributed the seizures to the result of strategic intelligence coordination and coordinated operational activity by officers of the Unit.
“The seized items, are: “3,310 jerry cans of 25-litre “Super Delicious” vegetable oil; 10 jerry cans of 10-litre “Super Delicious” vegetable oil; 20 cartons of 5-litre sunflower vegetable oil and 20 cartons of 3 litre sunflower vegetable oil.

“This seizure represents a major blow to economic saboteurs whose illegal importation of foreign vegetable oil undermines local industry, technology transfer, job creation, and foreign exchange earnings.
“Let me emphasized that the operation demonstrates the Service’s firm commitment to enforcing the NCS Act 2022 (as amended) and the Federal Government’s fiscal and protective measures that prohibit the importation of foreign vegetable oil,” Balogun said.
He urged those that were engaging in smuggling and related criminal networks to cease their activities.

Balogun warned that the Nigeria Customs Service would continue to deploy intelligence-led strategies to protect public health, national security, and the domestic economy.
He said that the confiscated jerry cans and cartons remained in custody as investigations continue and appropriate legal processes commence.












Lagos, June 6, 2026, Trucks Transit Parks Limited, TTP, says cutting congestion around Nigeria’s seaports is vital for sustainable shipping. Efficient truck management protects the environment and improves dockworkers’ daily working conditions significantly.



Ooni of Ife Backs Tinubu’s Commendation, Applauds CGC Adeniyi’s Leadership at Customs


