Following the joint resignation of five Deputy Comptrollers-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Comptroller General of the Service, Col Hameed Ali has retired another batch of 29 senior officers of the Service bringing the total to 34 resignations in 24 hours.

A statement signed by Wale Adeniyi, spokesman for the Service on behalf of the CG said it was part of the efforts to reposition the NCS. The statement reads:

“As part of on-going re-organization in Nigeria Customs Service, 34 Senior Officers have been retired from Service with immediate effect. The re-organization of the Service is one of the core mandates of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd).

“ Those affected in the exercise are five Deputy Comptrollers-General of Customs (DCGs) who have earlier given notification to the Comptroller-General for voluntary disengagement. They are John Atte MFR, Ibrahim Mera OON, Musa Tahir mni, Austin Nwosu and Akinade Adewuyi.

“Three others, of the rank of Assistant Comptroller-General are also affected in the re-organization exercise. They are Madu Mohammed mni, Secretary to the Nigeria Customs Board, Victor Gbemudu, Zonal Coordinator Zone ‘A’ and Bello Liman, Assistant Comptroller-General, (Headquarters). The rest are of the rank of Comptrollers serving in Customs Headquarters, Zonal Offices and various Area Commands.

“ The Comptroller-General of Customs stated that the retirements were part of measures to kick-start the repositioning of the Service for improved performance”.