Another Blow to Ndigbo: Customs Boss Tenure Extension and Nkiruka’s Sack Underscore Ongoing Marginalization
In a development that has further stirred widespread concerns about the continued marginalization of the Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria’s political and administrative structure, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended the tenure of Mr. Adewale Adeniyi as the Comptroller-General (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service — a move many see as a direct slight on the deserving Igbo senior officer, Deputy Comptroller-General BU Nwafor, who was next in line for the top job.
Adeniyi, initially appointed in an acting capacity in June 2023, was confirmed in October of the same year. Now, despite the presence of a qualified and seasoned Igbo officer in BU Nwafor, the President has chosen to maintain the status quo — continuing a troubling pattern of sidelining competent Igbos from strategic leadership positions.
The disappointment is deepened by the fact that DCG Nwafor is not only the most senior in rank but also a widely respected administrator with an impeccable service record spanning decades. Observers argue that her non-appointment represents a missed opportunity to both diversify federal leadership and correct long-standing regional imbalances in key government agencies.
This development has reopened fresh wounds, especially for many in the South East, who are still reeling from the recent removal of Dr. Nkiruka Madueke, the pioneer Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC). Dr. Madueke, an accomplished environmental scientist and advocate with a strong track record in climate justice and green policy reform, was appointed in June 2024 to much acclaim, only to be relieved of her duties in less than 14 months.
Her replacement, Mrs. Omotenioye Majekodunmi, was announced on July 31, 2025, amid commendations from the Presidency about her international reputation and expertise. Yet, for many Igbos, the applause rings hollow. It is not the competence of Majekodunmi that is in question, but the systematic removal of Ndigbo from meaningful leadership, even after they have proven capable and visionary.
“Two women. Two key roles. Two competent Igbo professionals. And in both cases, they were either ignored or shown the door. What exactly is Nigeria trying to say to the Igbo people?” asked a visibly emotional civil society activist during a protest gathering in Enugu on Saturday.
According to retired Major General Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma, who recently decried what he described as Nigeria’s unforgiving stance toward the Igbos even 55 years after the civil war, these developments are not isolated incidents but part of a broader, calculated exclusion. Speaking at the Ikengaonline virtual town hall meeting, Gen. Ijioma declared, “The war may have ended in 1970, but Nigeria has continued to wage a silent war against Ndigbo.”
He pointed out that such appointments — or lack thereof — reflect the deep-rooted suspicion and deliberate sidelining of Igbo voices in national affairs. “In the military, in politics, in governance, even in emerging sectors like climate change — we are systematically erased,” he said.
Ndigbo’s frustration is further inflamed by the fact that, time and again, they have demonstrated their commitment to national unity. From dominating business hubs across Nigeria to contributing meaningfully in various sectors, the Igbo people have long lived out the Nigerian dream. Yet, the reward seems to be continued exclusion from leadership, dismissal of merit, and disdain for equity.
Dr. Nkiruka Madueke’s unceremonious exit is particularly painful. As the first-ever head of the NCCC, she laid the foundational framework for the council, led Nigeria’s delegations to major global climate summits, and positioned the country as a serious player in the green economy transition. Her dismissal, cloaked in polite presidential appreciation, has been described as “a quiet dismissal of Igbo excellence.”
Many wonder whether any other ethnic group in Nigeria could face this level of systematic shortchanging without widespread outrage. The sense of injustice is palpable, and the call for genuine inclusivity is growing louder by the day.
Gen. Ijioma put it bluntly: “The exclusion of Igbos from Nigeria’s leadership is no longer accidental. It is a deliberate and dangerous design that must be challenged by unity, accountability, and political courage from within.”
As the Tinubu administration continues to roll out appointments and reforms, questions persist: Will competence ever override ethnicity? Will justice ever be truly served? And when will Nigeria finally embrace its Igbo sons and daughters not as second-class citizens, but as equal stakeholders in the destiny of this nation?
Until those answers come, many in the South East will continue to view every new appointment , like that of CG Adeniyi and DG Majekodunmi, not just as decisions, but as painful reminders of a war that never truly ended.
