Customs Head Pushes Intel Ops

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service Adewale Adeniyi, has urged officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit to make intelligence the foundation of their professional conduct, stressing that effective intelligence remains critical to the success of modern security and revenue operations.

Adeniyi gave the charge on Monday during the opening ceremony of a training programme for intelligence officers at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, Abuja. He emphasised that no contemporary security or revenue-driven operation can achieve meaningful results without timely, credible and properly applied intelligence.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Public Relations Officer of the service, Abdullahi Maiwada, a Deputy Comptroller of Customs, the Comptroller-General described the programme as the NCS’s first formal engagement of the year, noting that it presented an important opportunity to shape the professional mindset of participating officers.

Welcoming the officers to the college, Adeniyi said the training was coming at a critical period, urging participants to view the new year as a chance to make tangible contributions to the service and to national development. He encouraged them to approach the programme with dedication and a clear sense of purpose.

Reflecting on recent global and domestic security developments, the Comptroller-General highlighted various military and security interventions across different regions, including operations within Nigeria that resulted in the interception of arms and ammunition. According to him, these successes were largely driven by effective intelligence gathering and application.

“Intelligence remains the common thread behind every successful military or paramilitary operation,” Adeniyi said, adding that customs officers must learn to appreciate intelligence beyond theoretical discussions and recognise its practical value in day-to-day operations.

He further advised participants to revisit papers already presented during the course of the programme, noting that they contained practical insights and guidance required for effective field operations. Adeniyi stressed that intelligence work demands continuous learning, critical thinking and adaptability to evolving threats and operational challenges.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Dow Gaura, described intelligence as a quiet but decisive force in institutional growth and transformation.

Gaura noted that the capacity to gather, analyse and apply intelligence has become indispensable in responding to emerging security and economic realities facing the country. He explained that intelligence plays a central role in addressing contemporary challenges, particularly in an environment marked by complex threats and sophisticated criminal networks.

According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service has consistently invested in intelligence-led training as part of its broader capacity-building strategy. He described the current programme as a critical phase in the professional development of participating officers, designed to strengthen their analytical skills and operational effectiveness.

Gaura explained that intelligence underpins key customs functions such as risk management, revenue protection, the disruption of smuggling networks and the safeguarding of the national economy. He added that strengthening intelligence capacity remains essential to achieving the service’s mandate.

Urging officers to take the training seriously, the commandant assured participants that the NCS management had made adequate preparations to ensure a productive learning experience. He said experienced facilitators, relevant instructional materials and a structured learning environment had been provided to enhance focus and learning outcomes.

While acknowledging that the level of comfort at the college might differ from what some participants were accustomed to, Gaura said the intention was to instil discipline, professionalism and concentration. He emphasised that the temporary discomfort associated with training was necessary to achieve long-term institutional and personal benefits.

Both speakers expressed confidence that the programme would equip officers with the skills and mindset required to strengthen intelligence-led operations across the service, ultimately enhancing national security and economic stability.