…Senior 14, Junior 24 Set to Redefine Operational Excellence, National Revenue Management
By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has taken a decisive step toward building the next generation of strategic leaders, inaugurating 100 officers into advanced training programs at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, on Thursday, 5 February 2026.
The cohort comprises 50 participants in the Senior Command Course 14 and 50 officers in Junior Course 24, marking a critical push to strengthen operational efficiency and leadership capacity within the Service.
Senior officers will undergo six months of intensive training, while their junior counterparts will engage in a three-month program.
The inauguration ceremony, held at Ahmad Makarfi Hall, was led by Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Sulaiman Chiroma, Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), who spoke on behalf of Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
“This is more than the commencement of an academic program,” DCG Chiroma declared. “It is a strategic investment in the future leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The officers selected for these courses represent both privilege and responsibility, and their success will define the Service’s operational and institutional future.”
He stressed that participation in these elite Command courses would increasingly become a prerequisite for career advancement, urging participants to absorb knowledge, uphold integrity, and apply lessons in real-world service.
“Modern Customs administration demands officers who are not only operationally competent but also strategically grounded.
Leadership here is defined by character, discipline, sound judgment, and adherence to the core values of the Service,” Chiroma said.
Highlighting the NCS’s ongoing transformation, he noted that the College serves as a platform to equip officers with skills needed for a complex security and economic environment, particularly as the Service aligns itself with a new national revenue framework.
Commandant of NCCSC, Assistant Comptroller-General Dow Gaura, reinforced the significance of the courses, describing the College as a centre for leadership development, policy analysis, inter-agency cooperation, and professional excellence.
“These programs are designed to prepare officers for higher responsibilities.
Participants must demonstrate discipline, adaptability, commitment, and a strong appetite for knowledge.
Academic excellence, integrity, and professionalism remain non-negotiable,” ACG Gaura stated.
The Commandant also emphasised the importance of mentorship, physical fitness, and ethical conduct, warning against academic misconduct, plagiarism, and examination malpractice.
He assured participants that the College’s directing staff would provide guidance and support throughout the training.
“You are expected to emerge as capable leaders and administrators, ready to drive institutional reforms and support national economic objectives,” ACG Gaura concluded, formally declaring the courses open.
The inauguration underscores the NCS’s strategic focus on grooming officers for high-impact leadership roles at a time when national and global trade environments demand innovation, resilience, and professional mastery.
With the launch of Senior 14 and Junior 24, the Nigeria Customs Service signals its unwavering commitment to operational excellence, leadership development, and national economic security, setting the stage for a new generation of officers ready to navigate emerging challenges.
