A coalition of 37 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Thursday rallied behind the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, alleging that recent attempts to discredit him were being sponsored by smugglers and individuals affected by ongoing reforms within the service.

The coalition, which addressed journalists at a press briefing in Abuja, unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Adeniyi, describing his leadership as transparent, reform-driven and focused on strengthening revenue generation, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations.

Some of the organisations represented at the briefing included Initiative for Community Development, Poverty Alleviation for the Poor Initiative, Women Centre for Self-Empowerment and Development, Leadership Centre for Peace Intercity and Transformation Initiative, Youth Enhancement Development Organisation, Global Youths Awareness Development and Advocacy Centre for Professional Ethics Values.

Speaking on behalf of the groups, Amadi Chinda of Initiative for Community Development said the coalition carried out what he described as a “painstaking investigation and assessment” of the Customs Service under Adeniyi’s leadership over the past three years.

According to him, the findings showed that the Customs boss had introduced reforms that significantly improved productivity, accountability and operational efficiency in the service.

Chinda alleged that those behind recent media attacks against the Customs CG were individuals whose illegal activities had been disrupted by stricter enforcement measures and policies introduced by the NCS.

He said: “We deemed it fit to call for this crucial press conference today in the nation’s capital city, Abuja, to express our collective view based on our painstaking investigations and assessment on the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.

“We have discovered that those who have contracted some sections of the media to blackmail CG Adeniyi are those whose illicit and illegal businesses have been grounded to a halt by the policies and operations of the NCS since he took over the leadership of the service.

“The move by these disgruntled elements of economic sabotage is aimed at seeking media sympathy with unfounded and misleading claims so they can continue sabotaging the economy and revenue generation efforts of the government.”

The coalition maintained that the alleged smear campaign was targeted at undermining reforms that had blocked loopholes previously exploited to divert public revenue.

The groups said Adeniyi’s reforms were anchored on a three-point agenda of consolidation, collaboration and innovation aimed at improving trade facilitation, reducing the cost of doing business and strengthening border security.

According to the coalition, the Customs Service under Adeniyi had also intensified anti-smuggling operations, enhanced regional and international trade integration and improved institutional capacity through technology-driven reforms.

Highlighting some of the achievements recorded under the current Customs leadership, the coalition cited a reported N7 trillion revenue generation in 2025, including N1.75 trillion realised in the first quarter of the year, which they said exceeded targets by 106.5 per cent.

They also pointed to the N6.1 trillion generated in 2024, comprising N3.6 trillion remitted into the Federation Account, N1.6 trillion in Value Added Tax (VAT) and over N800 billion in levies, noting that the figure surpassed the government’s N5.07 trillion target by 22 per cent.

The CSOs attributed the growth in revenue to operational reforms, stricter enforcement measures and improved transparency in customs operations.

They referenced the planned $3.2 billion e-Customs modernisation project, which they said was expected to increase efficiency, automate processes and reduce cargo clearance delays at ports and border stations.

According to the coalition, the reforms had also benefited traders and importers, particularly in the South-East, many of whom previously faced difficulties moving between Lagos and Port Harcourt for cargo clearance.

“The South-East merchants long constrained by moving between Lagos and Port Harcourt to clear their imports, and the high cost of hinterland logistics, have emerged as major beneficiaries of his trade facilitation drive,” the coalition stated.

The groups noted that the Customs Service achieved the reported revenue growth despite granting concessions worth N1.68 trillion in 2024 to support economic activities and businesses.

They added that based on the 2025 performance, projections indicated that the service could generate up to N9 trillion in 2026.

The coalition also said Adeniyi’s leadership style and reforms had earned him several local and international recognitions, which they described as evidence of his dedication and integrity in managing the affairs of the service.

The CSOs called on Nigerians to ignore “cheap blackmail” against the Customs boss and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to retain Adeniyi to sustain ongoing reforms and revenue generation efforts within the Nigeria Customs Service.