‘Blatant nepotism over merit’: Ohanaeze tackles Tinubu for extending Bashir Adeniyi’s tenure as Customs CG

The apex social-cultural organisation in Igbo land, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has tackled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for extending the tenure of Bashir Adeniyi as Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

Ohanaeze described the extension as “blatant nepotism over merit and an act of institutional injustice and ethnic bigotry”.

This was contained in a release by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Dr Ezechi Chukwu.

The group alleged subtle scuttling of the promotion of the Deputy-Comptroller of Customs, BU Nwafor, as the Comptroller of Customs.

The statement read, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed deep dissatisfaction with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his tactful manoeuvre to deny Deputy Controller General of Customs (DCG) BU Nwafor from Anambra State her legitimate right of elevation to the rank of Controller General of Customs (CG).

General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who is already due for retirement, thereby shortchanging the next in line of succession, DCG BU Nwafor, whose retirement would be due in October 2026.

“With this reprehensible development, the next in hierarchy after Nwafor, DCG KI Adeola, is strategically positioned to take over from CG Adeniyi in 2026, rather than DCG Nwafor.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide sees this selective justice and situational ethics as a crown jewel of institutional unfairness, a peak of favouritism, and an ultimate display of blatant nepotism over merit, bureaucratic standard, and social conscience.

“This discriminatory act is a violation of the principle of national unity and tenets of the Nigerian national anthem, which echoes: “Though tribe and tongue may differ in brotherhood, we stand.

“Is this the prototype of the Nigerian brand of brotherhood and patriotism? Can we continue to pretend that we are one people and one nation in the face of this canonical ethnic profiling?”

The Igbo apex social-cultural body called on Tinubu to rethink in order not to be seen as a leader who entrenches injustice, inequality, and law-breaking.

“We therefore call on President Tinubu to revisit this obvious act of robbing Peter to pay Paul, which amounts to injustice, inequity, failure of public morality, and a bruise on national pride. We once again ask, What has become of the constitutionally provided federal character principle?” the statement added.

Tinubu, in a statement issued on Thursday through his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, extended the tenure of Bashir Adeniyi as CG NCS by one year.

According to the statement, the extension “will enable Mr. Adeniyi to consolidate ongoing reforms and complete critical initiatives of this administration”.

Adeniyi was appointed as acting comptroller-general of the NCS by Tinubu in June 2023. The president confirmed his appointment in October of the same year.

His stint in office was billed to end on August 31, 2025