The zonal coordinator of Zone B of the Nigeria Customs Service, Nsikan Umoh, has called for stronger inter-agency collaboration and adaptive leadership to tackle Nigeria’s complex national and security challenges.

Ms Umoh made the remarks at the end of the 2025 Executive Leadership Retreat, held from November 30 to December 4 at the Radisson Blu, Ikeja, Lagos.

The high-level retreat, jointly organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, convened senior officials from security agencies, Ministries, academia, the private sector and development organisations.

Ms Umoh said the programme equipped the participants with renewed clarity of purpose and tools for innovation, discipline and evidence-based decision-making.

She commended the comptroller general of customs, Bashir Adeniyi, for supporting their participation and for championing transformative leadership across the Service.

The retreat featured presentations by eminent speakers, including former foreign affairs minister Bolaji Akinyemi, former immigration comptroller-general Mohammed Babandede, NIPSS director-general Ayo Omotayo, political economist Anthony Kila, strategy consultant Leke Alder, international security expert Kayode Bolaji, Chartered Insurance Institute president Funmi Babington Ashaye, and Africa Leadership Forum executive director Ayodele Aderinwale.

The participants examined Nigeria’s governance reforms, complex security environment, economic competitiveness, and the role of national identity and federalism in strengthening unity.

Mr Aderinwale stressed the importance of aligning Nigeria’s foreign policy and trade negotiation capacity with national development goals.

Security experts underscored the shift from traditional threats to cybercrime, extremism, organised crime and humanitarian crises.

Discussions on national identity highlighted unresolved historical tensions and the need for a structured record of the civil war to counter misinformation and promote inclusive narratives.

The retreat recommended the creation of a continuous networking platform for participants, organisational benchmarking to improve efficiency, particularly within the NCS, to promote merit and professionalism, and cascading leadership lessons to junior officers. 

(NAN)