Crisis In Nigeria Customs Service As All Deputy Comptroller-Generals Resign

Here’s how Premium Times reports the move that took place yesterday.

In what appears a protest against the leadership style of the newly appointed Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Hameed Ali, all five Deputy Comptroller-Generals of the Nigerian Customs have resigned.

In an unprecedented move in the history of the customs service in the country, the five DCGs jointly announced their resignation in a terse letter dated October 29, 2015 titled “Voluntary Retirement” addressed to the Chairman of the Customs Board.

“We the underlisted officers currently on the rank of Deputy Comptroller-General met today, 29 October 2015 and unanimously agreed to voluntarily retire from the service of the Nigerian Customs Service having risen to the privileged rank of Deputy Comptroller-General.

We need to thank the President for giving us the opportunity to serve our great nation, Nigeria.

The letter was signed by Atte, A.J with service number 31441; Musa T.A, 31454; Mera I.M, 37595; Nwosu A.C, 34421; Adewuyi A.A, 30727.

Though they gave no reason for their resignation, it is believed that the DCG unanimously quit service following the no-nonsense leadership style of Mr Ali, a retired army Colonel, known for his anti-corruption stance.

The Nigeria customs is believed to be one of the most endemically corrupt institutions in the country and Mr. Ali was recalled from retirement by President Muhammadu Buhari to help sanitise the agency.

The spokesperson of the customs service, Wale Adeniyi, could not be reached for comments as at the time of publishing this story.