The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has appointed Deputy Comptroller of Customs (DC) Joseph Ikewun as Acting Comptroller of the North-Eastern Marine Command in a move to strengthen enforcement across Nigeria’s inland waterways.
DC Ikewun assumed duty at the Command’s headquarters in Makurdi, Benue State, on 30 April 2026, ushering in a new phase of leadership focused on operational efficiency and enhanced service delivery.
His appointment underscores the Service’s renewed drive to bolster maritime security, curb smuggling activities, and improve inter-agency collaboration within the Command’s area of responsibility.
Speaking at the assumption of duty, Ikewun pledged to build on existing achievements while fostering stronger partnerships with relevant stakeholders and sister agencies.
“I am committed to building on the solid foundation laid before me. My priority is to strengthen collaboration with relevant stakeholders and sister agencies to effectively secure our maritime corridors and suppress all forms of criminal activities. We will operate an open-door policy that encourages communication, teamwork, and mutual respect among officers, and together we will ensure that this Command remains a formidable force in protecting Nigeria’s waterways,” he said.
He outlined key priorities to enhance operational effectiveness, including improved inter-agency cooperation to tackle smuggling along waterways and strengthened internal coordination among officers.
DC Ikewun also commended the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, noting that ongoing reforms and infrastructural improvements within the Service reflect a sustained commitment to efficiency and professionalism.
The North-Eastern Marine Command, according to him, remains a critical component of the NCS, playing a strategic role in securing Nigeria’s waterways while facilitating legitimate trade through targeted enforcement and intelligence-driven operations.
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