By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has honoured outstanding officers and personnel for excellence, dedication and professionalism at the Award Dinner Night of its 2026 Public Relations Conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to public relations, strategic communication and institutional reforms.
The award ceremony, held on Thursday, July 23, 2026, brought together senior Customs officers, communication experts, media executives and development partners to celebrate excellence and promote professionalism within the Service.
Presenting the awards, the National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, said the ceremony was organised to recognise officers whose dedication, professionalism and innovation had distinguished them in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He said recognising excellence remained one of the most effective ways of motivating officers to do more, adding that the ceremony was designed to celebrate commitment, hard work and the values that continue to strengthen the image and reputation of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ike Neliaku, commended the leadership of the Comptroller-General for institutionalising professionalism and capacity building within the Public Relations Unit.
Neliaku said the recognition of excellence would inspire others to strive for higher standards, stressing that the NCS had demonstrated that strategic communication remained central to institutional success and public confidence.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahaya, described the initiative as a worthy investment in human capital.
He urged the award recipients to remain committed to ethical conduct, transparency and national service, noting that organisations that reward hard work and professionalism lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth.
Other major awards presented at the ceremony included the Distinguished Service Award in Public Relations, which went to Superintendent of Customs Elizabeth Anawanti and Superintendent of Customs Umar Abdullahi.
Chief Superintendent of Customs Nuruddeen Sa’idu and Yusuf received the Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Development of the NCS Public Relations Unit, while Chief Superintendent of Customs Lukman Abdullahi-Lagos won the Alex Akiyenyele Award for Outstanding PRO of the Year.
The ceremony also featured awards for the Best Dressed Male and Female Officers.
Similarly, Abdulkarim Zurmi and Lucy Nyambi were recognised as the Best NCBN Staff Attached to the Public Relations Unit for their dedication and outstanding support for the unit’s activities.
The award night formed part of activities marking the 2026 Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Conference, which focused on strengthening strategic communication, professionalism and public confidence in the Service.
