By Vicky Attah, Correspondent
Outstanding service and professionalism took centre stage as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) honoured its officers and personnel during the Award Dinner Night marking the close of the 2026 NCS Public Relations Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Among the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, in recognition of his contributions to public relations, strategic communication and institutional reforms within the Service.
The National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, said the awards were instituted to celebrate officers whose dedication, professionalism and innovation had distinguished them in the discharge of their duties.
In a statement made available to journalists on Saturday, Maiwada said the honours, presented on Thursday, reflected the Service’s commitment to recognising excellence and encouraging officers to strive for even higher standards.
“Recognising excellence is one of the most effective ways of motivating officers to do more. Tonight, we celebrate commitment, hard work and the values that continue to strengthen the image and reputation of the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.
The ceremony attracted senior Customs officers, public relations professionals, media executives and development partners, who gathered to celebrate exceptional performance and reinforce professionalism across the Service.
President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ike Neliaku, commended Adeniyi for deepening professionalism and expanding capacity-building initiatives within the Customs Public Relations Unit.
He said recognising excellence encourages others to raise their standards, adding that strategic communication remains a key driver of institutional success and public confidence.
Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahaya, described the awards as a significant investment in human capital, noting that organisations that acknowledge hard work and professionalism are better positioned for sustainable growth.
He urged the recipients to remain committed to ethical conduct, transparency and dedicated service to the nation.
The ceremony also recognised several officers for outstanding service, including Superintendent of Customs Elizabeth Anawanti and Superintendent of Customs Umar Abdullahi, who received the Distinguished Service Award in Public Relations, while Chief Superintendent of Customs Lukman Abdullahi-Lagos received the Alex Akiyenyele Award as Outstanding Public Relations Officer of the Year.
Other honours included awards for outstanding contributions to the development of the Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Unit, Best Dressed Male and Female Officers, and recognition for outstanding support by NCBN staff attached to the Public Relations Unit.
