The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reinforced its commitment to discipline, accountability, and professionalism with the assumption of office of Deputy Comptroller of Customs Sanusi Saulawa as Acting Provost Marshal.
The handover ceremony took place at the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja.
In his inaugural remarks, DC Saulawa said discipline remains central to the effectiveness of the Service, adding that his leadership would focus on fairness, consistency, and strengthening internal control systems across all units.
He stated that his appointment by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, comes with a significant responsibility to uphold the values of integrity, professionalism, and service discipline.
“I am honoured by the confidence reposed in me, and I fully recognise the weight of this mandate. It goes to the very heart of discipline, integrity and professionalism within our Service,” he said.
Saulawa noted that the role of the Provost Marshal goes beyond enforcement, describing it as a strategic office responsible for shaping institutional culture and reinforcing operational standards within the Service.
He explained that his administration would align with the policy direction of the Comptroller-General, built on consolidation, collaboration, and innovation, while ensuring disciplinary procedures are reviewed for clarity, transparency, and timely resolution of cases.
“There must be clarity, consistency and fairness in how discipline is administered. We will reinforce existing frameworks, eliminate ambiguities and ensure our processes are transparent, timely and accountable,” he said.
The Acting Provost Marshal also pledged to strengthen engagement with officers, partner agencies, and the trading community, stressing that compliance and discipline require collective responsibility.
“Our officers, partner agencies and the trading community must see themselves not as subjects of enforcement, but as partners in compliance,” he added.
On reforms, Saulawa said the unit would adopt technology-driven systems to improve oversight and shift from reactive enforcement to preventive compliance monitoring.
He warned that misconduct capable of undermining the integrity of the Service would not be tolerated, particularly in areas affecting revenue generation and national security.
“There will be zero tolerance for misconduct in critical areas such as flagrant abuse of standards, abuse of office, and actions that compromise revenue generation and national security,” he said.
He, however, assured that all personnel and stakeholders would be treated with dignity and fairness, adding that every case would be handled objectively and within the law.
The new Acting Provost Marshal takes over from Acting Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Sanni Yahaya, who was recently elevated after serving in the role and contributing to the strengthening of internal disciplinary frameworks within the Service.
In his remarks, Yahaya expressed confidence in Saulawa’s capacity to build on existing reforms, describing him as a disciplined officer with a strong understanding of institutional ethics and enforcement systems.
“DC Saulawa is a thorough professional with a firm grasp of service discipline and institutional ethics. I am confident that he will build on the progress made and take the Provost Unit to greater heights,” he said.