By Christopher Ameh, Bauchi

The Arewa Youth Advocate for Good Governance (AYAGG) has called on President Bola Tinubu to take strategic steps to ensure stability within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) amid the imminent retirement of several senior officers.

Addressing journalists in Bauchi on Friday, AYAGG National Coordinator, Comrade Adamu Muhammad Abdullahi, said the group was concerned about the potential impact of a mass leadership transition on one of Nigeria’s most critical institutions.

According to him, the concern is based on the need to preserve institutional continuity rather than support any individual.

“Our concern is informed by facts, not sentiment,” Abdullahi said.

He noted that Nigeria is currently implementing major economic reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, making it essential for key institutions responsible for revenue generation, trade facilitation and border management to maintain stability, policy continuity and experienced leadership.

Abdullahi described the Nigeria Customs Service as one of the Federal Government’s strongest revenue-generating agencies, with key responsibilities that include combating smuggling, securing the nation’s borders, facilitating legitimate trade and supporting national security operations.

He warned that the simultaneous retirement of several senior management officers, without a carefully managed transition, could create leadership gaps, weaken institutional memory, slow ongoing modernisation programmes and affect operational efficiency.

“This is not merely an administrative issue; it is a national economic concern,” he said.

The group, therefore, urged President Tinubu to consider a lawful and strategic intervention to preserve stability within the Customs Service while sustaining the gains recorded in recent years.

Abdullahi suggested that such measures could include a phased leadership transition, retention of critical institutional expertise where legally permissible, and succession planning driven by national interest rather than administrative timelines.

“We are not advocating for individuals. We are advocating for institutional continuity,” he said.

He added that reforms are more likely to succeed when there is consistency in leadership, policy implementation and operational direction.

“Nigeria cannot afford to interrupt the momentum already achieved in customs modernisation, revenue expansion, digital transformation and border security management,” he stated.

AYAGG also appealed to the Presidency, the national security establishment, the Federal Ministry of Finance and other relevant stakeholders to assess the potential implications of a large-scale leadership transition within the Nigeria Customs Service before making final decisions.

“As patriotic Nigerians, we believe governance is not only about enforcing regulations but also about making strategic decisions that protect national institutions and advance long-term national interests,” Abdullahi said.

He commended President Tinubu’s commitment to institutional reforms and expressed confidence that the administration would continue to prioritise policies that strengthen Nigeria’s economic and security architecture.

Abdullahi reaffirmed the group’s readiness to support initiatives aimed at preserving the operational efficiency, professionalism and strategic capacity of the Nigeria Customs Service.

“The stability of strategic institutions is the foundation of national development. Our appeal is rooted in patriotism, guided by reason and motivated solely by the overriding national interest,” he said.