The Sea Empowerment and Research Center (SEREC) has called for the consolidation of ongoing reforms within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), cautioning that a lack of continuity could reverse the gains recorded in recent years.
In an executive press brief released on April 29, 2026, the organisation stressed that while the NCS has made significant strides in digital modernization, revenue generation, enforcement, and stakeholder engagement, these achievements remain vulnerable without institutional safeguards.
SEREC anchored its position on a doctrine first articulated in 2014 by the late former Comptroller General, Abdullahi Dikko Inde, who emphasized the importance of building reforms that outlive individual administrations. The Center noted that the vision remains both relevant and urgent in the current policy environment.
It warned that reforms tied to personalities rather than institutions risk collapse with leadership changes, stressing that the true test of reform lies in continuity rather than initiation.
The Center described the Nigeria Customs Service as a relay institution, where successive administrations are expected to strengthen and build upon inherited policies rather than discard them. It further highlighted the need for stable, career-driven leadership, noting that past deviations from professional customs administration had led to disruptions and setbacks.
SEREC also acknowledged the current leadership of Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, commending efforts to advance modernization and align with legacy reform principles. However, it emphasised that such efforts must be institutionalized to ensure long term impact.
A major focus of the brief was on the next generation of Customs officers, whom SEREC described as critical to sustaining reforms. It urged that officers be repositioned as custodians of institutional legacy, drivers of continuity, and stewards of professionalism and national service.
SEREC called for the adoption of similar reform models across other government agencies, particularly in areas such as policy continuity, digital transformation, and institutional accountability.
To achieve this, the Center outlined key recommendations, including providing legislative backing for major reforms, accelerating the implementation of the National Single Window system, establishing independent reform audit mechanisms, strengthening institutional memory systems, and enhancing digital transparency tools.
SEREC also warned that Nigeria cannot afford a return to policy inconsistency or institutional experimentation, stressing that the progress made within the Nigeria Customs Service must be preserved and built upon for future generations.
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