Dr. Oramalugo.
Story by Dili Utomi.
Ceaseless accolades are still pouring in days after the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi (PhD) celebrated his 60th birthday and also marking the International Customs Day (ICD).
The latest of the praises comes from the recently retired Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Ben Oramalugo (PhD) who spoke to us in a telephone conversation.
Dr. Oramalugo recalls the intelligence, the wit, the demonstration of great administrative acumen and the pubic relations expertise with which the CGC has continued to steer the Nigeria Customs Service away from a near lethargic entity to the very vibrant structure that it has become today.
He noted that “As an administrator with vast experience in human relations, Comptroller-General Adeniyi has always exhibited great acumen in all ramifications. He pointed to the various innovative measures that have been the hallmark of the Customs CG’s administration.
Dr. Oramalugo referred to such innovations like, The Advanced Ruling System which was launched in early 2024, which introduced a pre-arrival classification and valuation mechanism that provides binding decisions to importers before shipment, ensuring predictability in their customs transactions. This system represents a significant shift from post-arrival classifications to pre-arrival decisions, thereby reducing delays and disputes in the clearance process.
Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) Programme. The AEO programme has demonstrated significant improvements in cargo clearance times, with AEO-
certified companies achieving an average release time of 43 hours, which is 5 hours better than the target clearance time of 48 hours. This represents a remarkable 66.9% reduction in cargo clearance time compared to pre-AEO status, where clearance took 5 days, and notably outperforms regular Economic Operators (EOs) who require 7 days for clearance.
Time Release Study. The TRS programme has been instituted to provide accurate information that relate to predictability and eventual forecast of time needed to move cargoes on arrival at the shore to the final destination. The TRS has also been recently praised by none less a person as the Secretary-General of the World Customs Organisation, Mr. Ian Saunders.
International Partnerships. The Customs administration under Adewale Adeniyi (PhD) has intensified efforts for bilateral and trilateral approach to anti-smuggling activities. This obviously is yielding fruits as is currently being witnessed.
Technological Infrastructure Advancement. The Unified Customs Management System, named ‘B’Odogwu’, a locally developed software platform for Customs operation came into effect in the fourth quarter of 2024. The platform, which represents a major milestone in Customs digital capabilities, was initially deployed at the PTML command for pilot testing, but has now been deployed in all Customs operational areas.
Intensified Stakeholder Engagement Initiatives. This has greatly helped in getting all sides to understand the importance of the contributions of everyone by way of demystifying some of the hitherto unclear, grey areas.
Support For SMEs and Export Trade Facilitation. The Service under CG Adeniyi is working hard to emphasise export trade in line with government’s desire to increase the export of products and earn higher percentage of foreign exchange.
CGC Adeniyi making his presentation at the ICD celebratio.
Customs Cares. The process of giving back to society through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was initiated in 2025 with the launch of Customs Cares and many social amenities have been renovated or built around the country to meet with modern standards.
Dr. Oramalugo also noted that the CGC has remained dedicated to carrying out the core mandates of the Nigeria Customs Service. He added that all the innovations are mainly geared towards facilitating trade and helping to grow the national economy. The CG has also been keen on the protection of the national economy, hence his collaborative efforts with local and international entities.
His words “These efforts have constantly resulted in the seizures that are being witnessed at most Commands right now. In the area of revenue generation, the Service under Adewale Adeniyi keeps breaking records, what with the ₦7.281 Trillion revenue generated in 2025 which beats the 2024 record”.
“The CG is a man with an eye for detecting and using the best of brains irrespective of one’s ethnic orientation, creed, religion or geographical source. He is the ideal Nigerian to leave with bigger responsibilities, no wonder that his tenure as CG was elongated. I wish him the very best of good health of the body and mind and many more years of fruitful life”. He concluded.
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