By Suzan Edeh, Bauchi
Khamis Musa Darazo, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, has commended the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for achieving significant progress in revenue generation, border management, and trade facilitation under President Tinubu’s ongoing reforms.
Darazo urged the Federal Government to consider performance-based tenure extensions for top Customs officers to protect recent revenue and security gains.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Ya’u Darazo stated that the strategic direction provided by the Federal Ministry of Finance has successfully strengthened the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as a key institution for non-oil revenue generation, economic management, and national security.
To sustain this momentum, Darazo proposed a targeted, merit-based, and time-bound continuity arrangement of one to two years for deserving officials within the ranks of Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG), Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG), Comptroller (CC), and Deputy Comptroller (DC), where legally permissible.
He clarified that the proposal is not a demand for indefinite tenure or preferential treatment, but a strategic decision aimed at responsible succession planning and mentoring the next generation of Customs leadership.
Darazo identified revenue mobilisation, border security, and trade facilitation as three critical areas currently yielding positive results under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He noted that the ongoing digitalisation and trade-modernisation initiatives have eased the burden on legitimate businesses while tightening controls against smuggling and illicit trade.
Highlighting the close link between Customs revenue performance and border security, Darazo appealed to the Federal Ministry of Finance, the NCS Board, and relevant authorities to evaluate leadership continuity objectively based on institutional needs and long-term national interests.
