Fifty officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have graduated from the three-month Junior Course 25 at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, Abuja, in a development aimed at strengthening professional leadership and operational effectiveness within the Service.
The graduation ceremony, held on Friday, August 28, 2026, brought together senior officers, instructors, families and other stakeholders to celebrate the successful completion of the officers’ professional training.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, charged the graduates to place integrity, sound judgment and the national interest above personal gain in the discharge of their duties.
Adeniyi said modern Customs administration requires officers to demonstrate competence and accountability beyond the traditional responsibility of revenue generation, particularly in an increasingly complex operational environment.
“Leadership is not defined solely by the rank that you wear, but is demonstrated through competence, fairness, courage and the responsibility you take,” he told the graduates.
He urged them to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the course to their various assignments, stressing that effective leadership would be critical to addressing emerging challenges confronting the Service.
The Commandant of the College, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Dow Gaura, commended the graduating officers for their commitment and dedication throughout the training
Gaura also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen the institution, including the deployment of digital learning tools and strategic training partnerships with the Nigerian Army aimed at enhancing the quality and relevance of professional development.
The ceremony featured the presentation of certificates to all 50 graduates, while the three best-performing officers received special awards from the Comptroller-General in recognition of their outstanding performance.
The graduation activities had commenced earlier in the week with a regimental dinner on Wednesday, August 26.
At the dinner, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Suleiman Chiroma, who represented the Comptroller-General, charged the officers to remain vigilant and demonstrate decisive leadership as they return to their various commands.
He urged them to translate the lessons from the course into effective performance, professionalism and responsible decision-making in their post-graduation assignments.
The completion of Junior Course 25 underscores the NCS’s continued emphasis on professional training and leadership development as part of efforts to build a more competent, disciplined and operationally effective Customs Service.
