Business

Exposed: Real Reasons Customs Boss, Abdullahi Dikko Resigned. + ” I am not afraid of Probe”, he Boasted

Published

11 years ago

August 18, 2015

strangely, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dikko Inde Abdullahi, resigned abruptly after months of speculations.
The Customs boss threw in the towel to silence those making several allegations against his six-year tenure in office.
Dikko sent a Notification for Retirement dated August 3, 2015 to President Muhammadu Buhari. The president accepted the resignation on August 14.
A source close to Abdullahi said he opted to retire at this point because he felt that if he were to try to remain in service until he is 60, which is 6 years from now, his staff development programme will be jeopardized because many trained and experienced officers will retire.
He reasoned that many current Controllers, ACGs and DCGs will retire by then, hence he decided to retire in order to give them a chance to grow.
In recent times, there were several attacks on the Customs boss by some groups because of his closeness with the former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
Recently too, the Nigeria Customs Transparency Initiative (NCTI) a pressure group, dragged Dikko before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) urging it to probe him over allegations of abuse of office.
Buhari accepts resignation…
President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the resignation of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dikko Abdullahi Inde. It was gathered yesterday that Buhari on Friday approved Abdullahi’s request to proceed on voluntary retirement from today in a letter he wrote to the president on August 3.
The president, in the approval letter he signed personally, thanked Abdullahi for his service to the nation within the last six years.
The President’s letter, titled “Voluntary retirement from the Nigeria Customs Service” and dated August 14, read: “Dear, Alhaji D.I. Abdullahi. I write to acknowledge the receipt of your letter Ref. No. NCS/ADM/HQ/P. 35802 of 3rd August, 2015 conveying your decision to voluntarily retire from the Nigeria Customs Service with effect from Tuesday, 18th August, 2015.
I’m not afraid of probe – Abdullahi
The outgoing CG has said that he is not afraid of the Federal Government’s ongoing investigation into alleged non-remittance of revenues by all the relevant agencies in the country.
The NCS boss said this in an interview with State House journalists yesterday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Nigeria Customs Service is among the agencies being probed by the government over the allegations of Excess Crude Account differentials and non-remittance of revenues into the federation account.
A committee raised by the National Economic Council (NEC) had last Thursday hired KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers to carry out a forensic audit of all the revenue-generating agencies.
But the outgoing Comptroller-General told journalists yesterday that he had nothing to fear about the investigation.
He said he was leaving at the time he felt the young ones that developed the software of the NCS could come up and manage the software.
Abdullahi said the revenue generated by the NCS appreciated by 20 percent from when he took over as Comptroller-General.
Despite the high-wire politics surrounding that seat, his record of performance, especially on revenue generation, has endeared the man to the President, a source said last night.
Besides taking the revenue of Customs from a monthly average of N30 billion to about N100 billion, Abdullahi is also credited for modernizing the Customs service through far-reaching reforms he introduced in his six-point agenda upon assumption of office.
At the Abuja headquarters of the Customs, officers were seen yesterday discussing his departure in hushed tones even as some agreed that their boss is leaving with an impeccable record. “I think the man has decided to bow out when the ovation is still very loud,” a lady Assistant Comptroller-General was overheard discussing with two other officers.
The race for new CG begins …
The race to succeed Dikko-Inde Abdullahi has already commenced.
Sources from the service said those in the race include the six Deputy Comptroller Generals (DCGs), and the six Assistant Comptroller Generals (ACGs) including the four Zonal Coordinators who report to the CG’s office directly.
The DCGs according to the Customs website list are John Atte who heads Corporate & Support Service, Adewuyi Akinade heading Modernisation Research & Economic Relations, Nwosu A.C. heads Excise, FTZ & Ind. Incentives. Others are Ibrahim Mera in charge of Human Resource Department, while Aliu G.T heads Tariff & Trade.
The ACGs (Headquarters), and four ACGs in the zones report directly to the Comptroller-General . They include Zonal Coordinator, Zone A, Lagos, ACG Victor Gbemudu, Alu Sule heads Zone B – Kaduna, Zone C – Port Harcourt is headed by Mohammed Ahmed and Zone D is under ACG Paul Ukaigwe

Business

Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend

Published

3 days ago

February 19, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.

The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.

Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.

The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.

The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.

Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.

The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.

The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.

The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.

Bank

Alpha Morgan to Host 19th Economic Review Webinar

Published

4 days ago

February 18, 2026

Sahara Weekly

Alpha Morgan to Host 19th Economic Review Webinar

In an economy shaped by constant shifts, the edge often belongs to those with the right information.

On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Alpha Morgan Bank will host the 19th edition of its Economic Review Webinar, a high-level thought leadership session designed to equip businesses, investors, and individuals with timely financial and economic insight.

The session, which will hold live on Zoom at 10:00am WAT and will feature economist Bismarck Rewane, who will examine the key signals influencing Nigeria’s economic direction in 2026, including policy trends, market movements, and global developments shaping the local landscape.

With a consistent track record of delivering clarity in uncertain times, the Alpha Morgan Economic Review continues to provide practical context for decision-making in a dynamic environment.

Registration for the 19th Alpha Morgan Economic Review is free and can be completed via https://bit.ly/registeramerseries19

It is a bi-monthly platform that is open to the public and is held virtually.

Visit www.alphamorganbank to know more.

Business

GTBank Launches Quick Airtime Loan at 2.95%

Published

5 days ago

February 17, 2026

Sahara Weekly

GTCO increases GTBank’s Paid-Up Capital to ₦504 Billion

GTBank Launches Quick Airtime Loan at 2.95%

Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (GTBank), the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, Africa’s leading financial services group, today announced the launch of Quick Airtime Loan, an innovative digital solution that gives customers instant access to airtime when they run out of call credit and have limited funds in their bank accounts, ensuring customers can stay connected when it matters most.

In today’s always-on world, running out of airtime is more than a minor inconvenience. It can mean missed opportunities, disrupted plans, and lost connections, often at the very moment when funds are tight, and options are limited. Quick Airtime Loan was created to solve this problem, offering customers instant access to airtime on credit, directly from their bank. With Quick Airtime Loan, eligible GTBank customers can access from ₦100 and up to ₦10,000 by dialing *737*90#. Available across all major mobile networks in Nigeria, the service will soon expand to include data loans, further strengthening its proposition as a reliable on-demand platform.

For years, the airtime credit market has been dominated by Telcos, where charges for this service are at 15%. GTBank is now changing the narrative by offering a customer-centric, bank-led digital alternative priced at 2.95%. Built on transparency, convenience and affordability, Quick Airtime Loan has the potential to broaden access to airtime, deliver meaningful cost savings for millions of Nigerians, and redefine how financial services show up in everyday life, not just in banking moments.

Commenting on the product launch, Miriam Olusanya, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd, said: “Quick Airtime Loan reflects GTBank’s continued focus on delivering digital solutions that are relevant, accessible, and built around real customer needs. The solution underscores the power of a connected financial ecosystem, combining GTBank’s digital reach and lending expertise with the capabilities of HabariPay to deliver a smooth, end-to-end experience. By leveraging unique strengths across the Group, we are able to accelerate innovation, strengthen execution, and deliver a more integrated customer experience across all our service channels.”

Importantly, Quick Airtime Loan highlights GTCO’s evolution as a fully diversified financial services group. Leveraging HabariPay’s Squad, the solution reinforces the Group’s ecosystem proposition by bringing together banking, payment technology, and digital channels to deliver intuitive, one-stop experiences for customers.

With this new product launch, Guaranty Trust Bank is extending its legacy of pioneering digital-first solutions that have redefined customer access to financial services across the industry, building on the proven strength of its widely adopted QuickCredit offering and the convenience of the Bank’s iconic *737# USSD Banking platform.
About Guaranty Trust Bank

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) is the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, a leading financial services group with a strong presence across Africa and the United Kingdom. The Bank is widely recognized for its leadership in digital banking, customer experience, and innovative financial solutions that deliver value to individuals, businesses, and communities.

About HabariPay

HabariPay is the payments fintech subsidiary of GTCO Plc, focused on enabling fast, secure, and accessible digital payments for individuals and businesses. By integrating payments and digital technology, HabariPay supports innovative services that make everyday financial interactions simpler and more seamless.
Enquiries:

GTCO
Group Corporate Communication
[email protected]
+234-1-2715227
www.gtcoplc.com