The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is set to lose 1,516 officers over the next two years following the release of statutory retirement lists covering 825 officers in 2026 and 691 officers in 2027.
According to documents obtained and reported by Punch Newspaper, officers across various cadres, from Deputy Comptroller-General to Customs Assistant II, are scheduled to leave the service in line with public service retirement regulations.
The retirement notices were contained in two restricted circulars issued by the Service’s Human Resource and Development Department and signed by Comptroller A.A. Bazuaye on behalf of the Deputy Comptroller-General, Human Resources and Development.
The 2026 retirement list includes 825 officers, with the largest number coming from the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre (285 officers), followed by the Superintendent of Customs cadre (226 officers). The list also includes five Deputy Comptrollers-General and 13 Assistant Comptrollers-General.
For 2027, 691 officers are expected to retire, with the Superintendent of Customs cadre accounting for 200 officers and the Deputy Superintendent of Customs cadre contributing 193 officers.
The circulars directed all affected officers to proceed on mandatory pre-retirement leave three months before their effective retirement dates, in accordance with Public Service Rule 100238 and relevant Federal Government guidelines.
The 2027 circular also invited officers to report any errors or omissions in the retirement list to the office of the Deputy Comptroller-General (HRD) before July 31, 2026.
Among the senior officers affected by the 2026 exercise are five Deputy Comptrollers-General, including Omale, Nnadi, Chiroma, Adeola and Niagwan. Several Assistant Comptrollers-General are also listed for retirement during the year.
Reacting to reports linking the retirements to succession plans within Customs, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Abejide Leke Joseph, dismissed such claims.
He stated that the retirements are purely statutory and required by law once officers reach 60 years of age or complete 35 years of service.
Abejide explained that a 16-year recruitment gap and delayed promotions had resulted in a large number of officers reaching senior ranks and retirement eligibility around the same period.
According to him, the retirements are not connected to the anticipated appointment of a new Comptroller-General of Customs.
The development comes shortly after President Bola Tinubu approved a final six-month tenure extension for Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi, allowing him to remain in office until February 2027.
The extension, announced by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, is intended to support ongoing reforms, including the implementation of the National Single Window project and an orderly leadership transition within the Service.
During the extension period, Adeniyi is expected to work with the Nigeria Customs Service Board on key personnel matters, including promotions and the compulsory retirement of eligible officers.
