By George Ozalla
The Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has charged 50 officers of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, who recently completed the Junior Course 25 at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, NCCSC, Gwagwalada, Abuja, to uphold integrity, competence, fairness and courage in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Adeniyi gave the charge on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the graduation ceremony of the officers, where he told them that assuming higher responsibilities within the Service should be accompanied by a strong sense of accountability and commitment to the national interest.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, the Comptroller General said leadership within the Customs Service could not be measured simply by the rank an officer wears, but by the manner in which such an officer handles responsibility and makes decisions.
“Leadership is not defined solely by the rank that you wear, but is demonstrated through competence, fairness, courage and the responsibility you take,” Adeniyi said.
He further charged the officers to apply the knowledge gained during the three month course to the realities of their assignments, stressing the need for them to exercise sound judgment in an operational environment that continues to present complex demands.
The CGC said the responsibilities of Customs officers extend beyond revenue generation, pointing to the Service’s roles in enforcement, trade facilitation, border management and protection of the country’s economic interests.
He cautioned the graduates against allowing personal considerations to interfere with their official responsibilities, urging them to remain conscious of the confidence reposed in them as officers of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Adeniyi also stressed the importance of accountability in the discharge of their duties, noting that their conduct and decisions in the field would have implications not only for the Service but also for the country and members of the public who interact with it.
The Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Dow Gaura, commended the officers for their dedication throughout the three month programme.
Gaura disclosed that the college was continuing to strengthen its training capacity through the use of digital learning tools and strategic training partnerships with the Nigerian Army.
He said the developments were intended to improve the quality of training at the college and equip officers with the knowledge required to handle leadership and operational responsibilities within the Service.
The ceremony featured the presentation of certificates to all 50 officers who successfully completed Junior Course 25, while the three best performing officers received special awards presented by the Comptroller General.
The graduation activities had commenced on Wednesday, August 26, with a regimental dinner attended by senior officers of the Service.
At the dinner, Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, Suleiman Chiroma, who represented the Comptroller General, further charged the graduating officers to bring vigilance and decisive leadership to their various assignments after the course.
Chiroma reminded them that the training they had received should reflect in their conduct and approach to duty as they returned to their respective commands.
The completion of Junior Course 25 marks another stage in the professional development of the officers, who are expected to apply their training to the responsibilities awaiting them in their various commands.
