By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has celebrated the retirement of Deputy Comptroller-General Tijanni Abe after 35 years of meritorious service to the nation, with senior officers and colleagues paying tribute to his career, character and contributions to the Service.
Members of the NCS Management Team gathered at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, on August 19, 2026, to honour Abe, who served as Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resource and Development before bringing his career in the Service to an end.
The ceremony provided an opportunity for the leadership and officers of the NCS to reflect on Abe’s three and a half decades of service and the qualities that distinguished him throughout his career.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who led the tributes, described the retiring officer as a man whose career was anchored on faith, calmness and unwavering integrity.
Adeniyi also drew attention to Abe’s habit of expressing gratitude, saying the quality reflected his character and the manner in which he conducted himself during his years in the Service.
“You are a man of integrity and integrity pays. May God increase you in wisdom and happiness, and may your years ahead be even more pleasurable. We are all very proud of you, and we wish you well,” the Comptroller-General said.
He added that retirement would not bring an end to the relationships Abe had built within the Service, noting that the bonds forged during his years of service would continue beyond his active career.
Other senior officers who spoke at the ceremony also reflected on Abe’s years in the NCS, describing him as a leader who earned respect not merely because of his position but through his personal conduct and relationship with colleagues.
They highlighted his courage, humility, sacrifice and kindness, while recalling his influence as a senior officer and mentor to many officers who worked with him.
For colleagues who had spent years working alongside him, Abe’s retirement represented the end of an important chapter in a career marked by service and leadership. His contribution to the Service, particularly in the area of human resource and development, was also acknowledged as part of the tributes.
Responding to the goodwill messages, Abe expressed appreciation to God for seeing him through his 35 years in the NCS.
He also thanked the Comptroller-General and members of the Management Team for their support and confidence in him throughout his career, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve alongside them.
Abe’s retirement formally brings to a close more than three decades of active service in the Nigeria Customs Service, leaving behind colleagues and associates who described his career as one worthy of recognition and celebration.
