A day after five Deputy Comptrollers-General of Customs resigned voluntarily, it’s been disclosed that a total of 34 senior officers were compulsorily retired from the service with immediate effect.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (Rtd), who gave the directive, stated that the retirements were part of measures to kick-start the repositioning and re-organization of the Service for improved performance.

A statement released by Wale Adeniyi, Public Relations Officer of Customs stated that: “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.”