The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has honoured outstanding officers and personnel for their dedication, professionalism and excellence in service during the Award Dinner Night held as part of the 2026 Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The event, also saw the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, receive the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contributions to public relations, strategic communication and institutional reforms within the Service.
The ceremony brought together senior Customs officers, communication professionals, media executives and development partners to celebrate outstanding performance and promote a culture of professionalism across the Service.
Speaking at the event, the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, said the awards were instituted to recognise officers whose dedication, professionalism and innovation have distinguished them in the discharge of their responsibilities.
He said recognising excellence remains one of the most effective ways of motivating personnel to sustain high performance and strengthen the image of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, commended the Comptroller-General for promoting professionalism and capacity building within the Customs Public Relations Unit.
According to him, recognising excellence inspires others to strive for higher standards while reinforcing the role of strategic communication in building institutional credibility and public confidence.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Alhassan Yahaya, described the awards as an investment in human capital, noting that rewarding professionalism and hard work is essential for sustainable institutional growth.
He urged the recipients to remain committed to ethical conduct, transparency and national service.
Among the major award recipients were Superintendent of Customs Elizabeth Anawanti and Superintendent of Customs Umar Abdullahi, who received the Distinguished Service Award in Public Relations.
Chief Superintendents of Customs Nuruddeen Sa’idu and Ridwan Yusuf were honoured with the Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Development of the Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Unit.
Chief Superintendent of Customs Lukman Abdullahi-Lagos received the Alex Akinyele Award as the Outstanding Public Relations Officer of the Year.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of the Best Dressed Male and Female Officers Awards, while Abdulkarim Zurmi and Lucy Nyambi were recognised as the Best NCBN Staff Attached to the Public Relations Unit for their dedication and outstanding support to the unit’s activities.
The awards formed part of the activities marking the conclusion of the 2026 Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Conference, which focused on strengthening strategic communication, enhancing professionalism and reinforcing public trust in the Service.