By Uloma Peace Okorie
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has charged newly trained officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to lead with integrity, competence and courage in the discharge of their responsibilities.
Adeniyi gave the charge on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the graduation ceremony of 50 officers who completed the three-month Junior Course 25 at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The Customs boss urged the graduates to place national interest above personal gain, stressing that effective leadership in modern Customs administration requires sound judgment, accountability and professionalism.
According to him, leadership is not determined by rank alone but by the ability of an officer to demonstrate competence, fairness, courage and responsibility.
“Leadership is not defined solely by the rank that you wear, but is demonstrated through competence, fairness, courage and the responsibility you take,” Adeniyi told the graduates.
He urged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training to address the increasingly complex operational challenges facing the Service.
The Commandant of the College, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Dow Gaura, commended the officers for their dedication and commitment throughout the training.
Gaura also highlighted efforts to upgrade the institution, including the introduction of digital learning tools and strategic training partnerships with the Nigerian Army to improve professional training.
The 50 officers were presented with certificates at the ceremony, while the three best-performing participants received special awards from the Comptroller-General.
The graduation activities had earlier commenced with a regimental dinner on Wednesday, August 26, where Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Suleiman Chiroma, representing the CGC, urged the officers to demonstrate vigilance and decisive leadership in their various commands.
He charged them to translate the knowledge gained from the course into improved performance and effective service to the nation.