The Customs Police Unit has emerged champion of the Zone ‘A’ Inter-Command Games of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), defeated a combined team from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command and Lagos Industrial Area Command 1–0 in a keenly contested final.
The grand finale, held on Saturday, 5 September 2026, at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos, also provided an opportunity for the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, to charge officers to embrace discipline, teamwork and strategic thinking in the discharge of their duties.
Adeniyi, while congratulating the Zonal Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Mohammed Babandede, and the organising committee for what he described as a seamless tournament, said the event reflected the three core pillars of his administration: consolidation, collaboration and innovation.
“I’ve seen those three pillars displayed exceptionally well this evening,” the CGC said.
He urged officers to translate the values learned through sports into their professional and personal conduct, stressing the importance of cooperation and collective responsibility in the Customs Service.
“Whether you’re working in pairs or as a group, we need to cultivate that element of team spirit and teamwork. We must always look out for one another in everything we do. The virtues of discipline, teamwork, and strategy are the key takeaways from a competition like this,” Adeniyi stated.
The Customs Police Unit sealed the tournament’s top prize with a narrow 1–0 victory in the football final, capping an impressive campaign.
Speaking after the triumph, the Acting Provost Marshal and Head of the Customs Police Unit, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Salauwa Sanusi, attributed the victory to thorough preparation and effective organisation.
“Everything boils down to preparedness. When you set your house in order and prepare thoroughly, the result will always be outstanding and that is exactly what played out today,” Sanusi said.
The closing ceremony featured the presentation of individual awards, including the Most Valuable Player honour, as well as trophies to outstanding commands in badminton, table tennis and chess.
The tournament brought together commands within Zone ‘A’, promoting camaraderie, healthy competition and stronger working relationships among officers while reinforcing the role of sports in building a more cohesive and disciplined workforce.
