Customs Gala/Award Nite Turned Cultural Parade

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) annual Comptroller General’s Conference which kicked off in Abuja on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 continued and came to conclusion on Friday, November 29, 2024 in Abuja.

It will be recalled that Day 3 of the event, Friday November 15, 2024 which was supposed to serve as the Gala and Award Nite was postponed by the Customs leadership in honour of the late Chief of Staff of the Nigeria Army, Lt Gen Taoreed Lagbaja; whose burial fell on the same date.

Comptroller Nnadi and CGC Adeniyi

Essentially, the Gala/Award Nite is designed to celebrate officers and men who excelled in their duties through outstanding performances; in addition to the demonstration of exemplary professional conduct.

However, the event turned out a novelty and carnival of sort as officers of the service led by the CGC, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi made it a showcase of our collective and unique cultural richness, probably about the first, major official event in which our cultural diversity was loudly expressed through our collective unique sense of dressing.

But what was most significant and interesting was the fact of its voluntary exchange where senior management officers were adorned mostly, not in the cultural wears of their primordial nativity but the traditional attire of other sections of Nigerian; promoting a strong sense of national affinity. It was a unique star parade for which the leadership and management of the NCS deserves commendation.

To continue to promote peace and greater understanding, Nigeria needs more of this deliberate showcase of our unity in diversity, through this kind of easy, convivial, official atmosphere which emphasizes our desire to remain united.

It is noteworthy that deserving officers were honoured with various awards by the CGC at the event. Customs Area Controllers who bagged recognition at the event includes Comptrollers Babatunde Olomu fsi (Apapa Port Command), Dera Nnadi mni (Tin Can Island Command), Mohammed Chana (Kano/Jigawa Command), Hussain Ejibunu (Operation Whirlwind), Mohammed Babandede (Port Harcourt Area 11 Onne Command), Dr Ben Oramalugo (Oyo/Osun Command); amongst others.

The ceremony which according to the spokesman of the NCS, Abdullahi Maiwada was held in Abuja, brought together key stakeholders with representations from the ministry of finance, the national assembly, and sister enforcement agencies.

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Among dignitaries at the event were the Representative of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy who doubled as the Chairman Nigeria Customs Service Board, Mr Olawale Edun; Senator Isah Jibril, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs; Hon Leke Abejide, Chairman House Committee on Customs and Excise; and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, who commended the NCS critical role in enhancing national security, trade facilitation and revenue generation.

In his address, CGC Adeniyi highlighting the significance of the event which he anchored on the celebration of excellence said a reward system is bond to produce greater sense of commitment.

“This strategic shift springs from our belief that positive reinforcement nurtures a more dynamic, motivated, and high-performing workforce.”

While acknowledging certain challenges faced in the outgoing year including a 15% revenue deficit carried over from 2023, he expressed optimism on the capacity of the service to continue to overcome setbacks and to focus on achieving its goals.

This is even as he called on officers to remain united and to continue to uphold the NCS values for integrity, professionalism and high sense of patriotism in serving the nation.

Ali Muhammad, Director of Home Finance at the Ministry of Finance who represented the Honourable Minister, praised CGC Adeniyi’s leadership, noting that recognising excellence motivates officers and enhances productivity.

Similarly, IGP Egbetokun lauded the collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and the NCS, describing it as a cornerstone of national security efforts.

Among recipients of the awards was Assistant Superintendent of Customs, Folusho Adeogun, Liaison Officer, Nigeria Customs Broadcasting Network (NCBN).

It is instructive to remember that the CGC Adeniyi, Comptrollers Olomu and Nnadi were at one time or the other, public relations officers, and later in the course of their career, became head office staffs saddled with crucial responsibilities in the service’s administrative, strategic and planning duties and assignments.