A retirement storm is brewing in the Nigeria Customs Service as the agency prepares to lose 1,516 officers over the next two years, with five Deputy Comptrollers-General (DCGs) among those heading for the exit.
The retirement notices were contained in two restricted circulars issued by the Service’s Human Resource and Development Department and signed by the Comptroller, Establishment, A.A. Bazuaye, on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller-General, Human Resources and Development. Officers across all cadres — from the rank of Deputy Comptroller-General down to Customs Assistant II — will exit the service in line with statutory retirement provisions.
The first circular covers 825 officers scheduled for retirement in 2026, with the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre accounting for the highest number of exits at 285 officers, followed by the Superintendent of Customs cadre with 226 officers. Other officers retiring in 2026 include 64 Assistant Superintendents of Customs I, 61 Chief Superintendents, 53 Chief Customs Officers, 51 Deputy Customs Officers, 13 Assistant Comptrollers-General and five Deputy Comptrollers-General.
A second circular dated May 26, 2026 forwarded a draft list of 691 officers due for statutory retirement in 2027, with the Superintendent of Customs cadre accounting for the highest at 200 officers, followed by 193 Deputy Superintendents of Customs.
Among the senior officers affected are DCGs Omale, Nnadi, Chiroma, Adeola MRS and Niagwan. Reacting to the development, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Abejide Leke Joseph, dismissed suggestions that the retirements were linked to a new Comptroller-General appointment, insisting the exercise is purely statutory.
President Bola Tinubu had recently approved a final six-month tenure extension for Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi to enable him consolidate key reforms, including the implementation of the National Single Window project and ensure an orderly succession. Punch
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