By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has deepened its commitment to grooming a new generation of leaders with the commencement of a strategic training programme for senior officers at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada.
The programme, tagged Senior Customs Command and Leadership Course (Batch A), began on Monday, February 3, 2026, and is designed to prepare senior officers for higher responsibilities amid evolving operational demands, security realities and trade facilitation challenges.
Speaking during the session on Tuesday, February 4, 2026, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, described the course as a defining investment in the future of the Service. He stressed that leadership within the NCS is exercised at every level, warning against the gradual erosion of standards, institutional culture and accountability as experienced officers exit the system.
According to the CGC, the course is structured to test character, competence and discipline, noting that leadership has a way of revealing both strengths and weaknesses. He cautioned participants against personalising authority, hoarding knowledge or engaging in unhealthy competition, adding that strong institutions thrive on shared purpose, continuity and mentorship.
“At this level, your success is determined less by what you know and more by who you are,” Adeniyi stated.
“The authority you wield amplifies character. It exposes strength, but it also reveals weakness. Throughout this course, you will be challenged to look inward and reflect on your judgment, discipline, values and behaviour under pressure.
“That discomfort is deliberate, because growth does not occur in comfort zones.”
He further described the leadership programme as a deliberate effort to prepare officers for a defining moment in the history of the Service, stressing that the quality of future leadership would depend largely on the decisions, discipline and mindset of those currently undergoing the training.
The course featured intensive sessions on key leadership competencies, including authenticity and integrity, emotional intelligence, effective communication, strategic thinking, business acumen and managing relationships with diverse stakeholders.
Participants also explored lessons from the 4×100-metre relay race as a leadership case study, underscoring the importance of teamwork, synergy, timing and collective responsibility.
Discussions further examined how failures in teamwork can create hostile, hindering and hypocritical work environments, while identifying the core elements of high-performing teams such as mindset, mission, methods, movement, message and leadership by example.
CGC Adeniyi challenged the officers to justify the Service’s investment in their development by translating knowledge into measurable results that build strong teams and prepare others for future leadership roles.
He congratulated participants on attaining a significant career milestone and urged them to fully engage with the programme, reflect honestly and apply the lessons learned in advancing the Nigeria Customs Service.
