Over 1,500 Customs officers are packing up their uniforms in the next two years — and no, it’s not a shake-up. Here’s what’s really happening.

So, big changes are coming to the Nigeria Customs Service. According to cbinews.tv, the Service is getting ready to say goodbye to 1,516 officers between 2026 and 2027. Yep, you read that right — over fifteen hundred.

Here’s how it breaks down: 825 officers will retire in 2026, and another 691 will follow in 2027. We’re talking all sorts of ranks here, from the top brass like Deputy Comptroller-General down to Customs Assistant II.

The details came through in two restricted circulars from Customs’ Human Resource and Development Department, signed by Comptroller A.A. Bazuaye on behalf of the DCG in charge of HRD.

2026 retirements — 825 officers total

The first circular, dated 19 September 2025, lists the 2026 exits. Deputy Superintendent of Customs takes the biggest hit with 285 officers, followed by Superintendent of Customs with 226. The rest include:

- Chief Superintendent of Customs: 61

- Chief Customs Officer: 53

- Deputy Customs Officer: 51

- Assistant Superintendent of Customs I: 64

- Assistant Customs Officer: 46

- Inspector of Customs: 8

- Assistant Superintendent of Customs II: 10

- Customs Assistant I: 1

- Customs Assistant II: 2

- Assistant Comptroller-General: 13

- Deputy Comptroller-General: 5

**2027 retirements — 691 officers total**

The second circular, dated 26 May 2026, covers the 2027 draft list. Superintendent of Customs leads with 200 officers, with Deputy Superintendent of Customs close behind at 193. Others on the list:

- Deputy Customs Officer: 81

- Chief Superintendent of Customs: 68

- Assistant Customs Officer: 57

- Assistant Superintendent of Customs I: 39

- Chief Customs Officer: 38

- Inspector of Customs: 2

- Assistant Superintendent of Customs II: 4

- Customs Assistant I: 4

- Customs Assistant II: 4

- Assistant Comptroller-General: 4

Now, what happens to these officers? Customs has told everyone affected to take their mandatory pre-retirement leave, as per Public Service Rule 100238 and other government circulars. They’ve also got to submit a three-month notice to the Comptroller-General before their official retirement date. Basically, step away from active duty three months early.

If there are any errors in the 2027 list, officers have until 31 July 2026 to flag them. Zonal coordinators and unit heads have been told to make sure the lists get to everyone involved.

Some senior officers, including several Deputy Comptrollers-General and Assistant Comptrollers-General, are already part of this wave — either retired in 2026 or set to go this year.

But before rumours start flying, Abejide Leke Joseph, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, has stepped in to clear the air. As reported by cbinews.tv, he says this is purely statutory. No politics, no leadership drama. In civil service, you retire based on age or years served — that’s it.

So why so many at once? He points to a 16-year recruitment gap and stalled promotions. That bottleneck means several cohorts are hitting retirement age at the same time. Over 1,500 officers leaving is lawful and routine, not a power move.

Attempts to get a comment from the Nigeria Customs Service spokesperson didn’t go through at the time of reporting.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu recently gave Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, a six-month extension. His tenure now runs to February 2027. The idea is to keep reforms like the National Single Window project on track and make sure the handover is smooth.

Adeniyi, who’s climbed the ranks over decades, will keep overseeing key reforms with the Customs Service Board during this transition.

Source: cbinews.tv

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