Customs honour’s outstanding officers, reward excellence at PR conference award night
Port Harcourt July 24, 2026, The Nigeria Customs Service on Thursday, July 23, 2026, honoured outstanding officers for excellence during an Award Dinner Night in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, concluding the 2026 NCS Public Relations Conference.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to public relations, strategic communication, and institutional reforms within the Service over the years.
The event brought together senior Customs officers, communication experts, media executives, and development partners to recognise excellence, inspire commitment, and promote professionalism across the Nigeria Customs Service.
Presenting the awards, National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, said the ceremony celebrated dedication, professionalism, and innovation in the discharge of officers’ responsibilities across various commands.
“Recognising excellence is one of the most effective ways of motivating officers to do more,” Maiwada stated, adding that the Service values commitment and hard work that strengthen its image.
The President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Ike Neliaku, commended Adeniyi’s leadership in institutionalising professionalism and capacity building within the Customs Public Relations Unit nationwide.
“When excellence is recognised, it inspires others to strive for higher standards,” Neliaku said, noting that strategic communication remains central to institutional success and public confidence.
Second left, the President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Mr Ike Neliaku, and the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Alhaji Alhassan Yahaya,
Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Alhassan Yahaya, described the initiative as a worthy investment in human capital development for the Nigeria Customs Service.
“Any organisation that rewards hard work and professionalism is laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth,” Yahaya said, urging recipients to uphold ethics, transparency, and national service.
Major honours included the Distinguished Service Award in Public Relations presented to Superintendent of Customs Elizabeth Anawanti and Superintendent of Customs Umar Abdullahi for exemplary performance.
Chief Superintendent of Customs Nuruddeen Sa’idu and Chief Superintendent of Customs Yusuf received the Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Development of the NCS Public Relations Unit.
Chief Superintendent of Customs Lukman Abdullahi-Lagos won the Alex Akiyenyele Award for Outstanding PRO of the Year, in recognition of exceptional media and public engagement efforts.
The ceremony also featured the Best Dressed Male and Female Officers Awards, celebrating smartness, discipline, and the corporate image projected by Customs personnel during official engagements.
Abdulkarim Zurmi and Lucy Nyambi were recognised as Best NCBN Staff Attached to the Public Relations Unit for dedication and outstanding support to the Unit’s activities throughout the year.
The most dedicated National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada,
Officials said the awards would encourage officers to maintain professionalism, while strengthening public trust and reinforcing the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to transparency, service delivery, and excellence.