Giant strides of customs boss Wale Adeniyi as distinguished public servant @ 59
By Seun Johnson
For Mr. Adawale Bashir Adeniyi, the distinguished Comptroller General of the Nigerian Custom Service, this is undoubtedly a season of blistering celebration. Whether he is hosting a classy gig or orchestrating a solemn banquet, Adeniyi owes his maker a huge debt of gratitude for the multitude of altitude and towering achievements that have defined his 59 years journey on earth.
His life, a tapestry of 59 years, is a testament to uncommon grace, grand conquest and uncommon dominion over life’s daunting odds. It could not have been otherwise.
Whether in his career or personal life, Adeniyi embodies a steadfast commitment to excellence and an unwavering passion for meaningful pursuits. His name has become a beacon of hope and transformation within the Nigerian Customs Service.
Under his watch, the agency recorded over 6.1 trillion naira revenue for the 2024. This was disclosed by the CG during a press conference held in Abuja to review the service’s 2024 performance. The revenue marked a remarkable increase of 2.9 trillion naira compared to the 3.2 trillion naira recorded in 2023. He has also assured a better performance in 2025.
His remarkable achievements in the public sector have earned him numerous awards, accolades, and recognitions from both public and private institutions. In recognition of his dedicated service to the Nation, former President Muhammadu Buhari, on October 11, 2022, conferred the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) on him.
In July 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu honoured the Custom boss with the “Outstanding Revenue Collection” accolade at the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS).
The award was bestowed on him during a ceremony at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, recognising his significant achievements in revenue generation since his appointment as Comptroller-General of Customs in June 2023.
In September 2024, MARKETING EDGE, a leading Marketing, Brand and Advertising publication in Nigeria conferred on him an Award of the Most Distinguished and Outstanding Public Servant of the year. Adeniyi bagged this honour at the EDGE AWARDS which was held in commemoration of the MARKETING EDGE 21st anniversary.
Also, early this year, Nigerian Maritime Journalists, NMJ unanimously agreed to award him as the “Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year 2024.
These indelible footprints on the sands of time largely account for the flood of heartfelt tributes and tidal wave of testimonies from eminent Nigerians who took to social media in droves to celebrate the 59th birthday of the legendary figure and paragon of public service and leadership.
In his special birthday message, president Bola Ahmed Tinubu commends the CGC for his pivotal role since taking the leadership of the Customs Service in June 2023.
Tinubu in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said under Adeniyi’s guidance, the agency has witnessed significant progress through the steady digitalization and automation of its operations, noting that it is a renewed commitment to professionalism, and an uplift in officers’ morale that enhances high performance.
He said, “His leadership has enabled the NCS to surpass revenue targets substantially and bolstered trade facilitation, yielding widespread positive effects on the national economy.”
The president also applauds the innovative anti-smuggling strategies initiated by the Customs Chief. These strategies according to him, encompass equipping the youth with new skills for alternative livelihood opportunities, fostering engagements with traditional institutions, and nurturing a culture of effective communication and mutual respect.
Tinubu also recognises the Comptroller-General’s other notable achievements, including the remarkable seizures of arms and ammunition and the revitalisation of the Comptroller-General’s Annual Conference, which aims to assess and enhance the agency’s operations.
He affirmed affirms that Adeniyi’s extensive experience of over 30 years in service and adaptability to change has greatly enriched the Customs Service.
Also celebrating the Custom Chief, president of Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Engineer Musa Nimrod eulogized him for his unwavering support and substantial investment in the sport of volleyball in Nigeria.
Nimrod acknowledged the CGC’s significant contributions to the development of the game during the 2024 CGC Volleyball Premier League.
He wrote, “On this special day, I want to celebrate you not only as a distinguished leader in the Nigeria Customs Service but as a passionate supporter and investor in Nigeria volleyball.
“Your dedication to volleyball through the sponsorship of the 2024 League changed the face of the game and was instrumental to signing a partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service.”
Indeed, the last 24 hours of social media blitz is a validation of Adeniyi’s remarkable life and sterling impacts in the Nigerian Custom Service. A consummate perception manager and a quintessential professional, Adeniyi is a man whose touch seems to turn every endeavour into gold.
Until his appointment in June 2023 as acting Comptroller General of Custom and his subsequent confirmation as substantive CGC in October 2023 by president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Adewale Adeniyi was DCG in charge of Strategic Research and Policy at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja.
He served as Customs spokesman for almost two decades until January 2017 when he was redeployed to the Apapa Area Command as a Deputy Comptroller.
He was promoted to the rank of Comptroller in 2017 and appointed Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
In 2019 he was redeployed to serve as the Controller of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command, Lagos.
He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Comptroller General in February 2020 shortly after he supervised the seizure of $8.07 million cash being illegally taken out of Nigeria through the E-Wing of the international airport tarmac. He was subsequently posted to head the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja as Commandant.
Since assuming the mantle of leadership as the Nigerian Comptroller General of Customs, Adeniyi has masterfully wielded his professional expertise to reshape the agency’s image and revolutionize its revenue-generation capabilities.
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