The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) recently organized a week-long leadership retreat aimed at equipping its newly promoted Comptrollers with the tools needed to excel in their elevated roles. The retreat, which took place at the Sen. Ahmed Makarfi Auditorium of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada, commenced on Tuesday, 7 October 2025, and concluded on Friday, 11 October 2025.
The event, declared open by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), DCG Sulaiman Chiroma, was part of the ongoing reforms under the leadership of Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi. DCG Chiroma highlighted the importance of the retreat as a means to reinforce the NCS’s vision of strengthening institutional integrity, fostering leadership, and driving innovation within the Service.
“This retreat provides an opportunity to realign with the CGC’s three-point agenda: collaboration, consolidation, and innovation. Every officer must contribute meaningfully to the modernisation of the Service,” DCG Chiroma said during the opening session.
The retreat focused on several key leadership skills, with particular emphasis on professionalism, accountability, and teamwork. DCG Chiroma urged the newly promoted officers to lead with purpose and uphold the values that define the NCS, stressing that their performance would be critical in shaping the public image of the Service.
In his closing remarks, DCG Greg Itotoh, who oversee Human Resource Development, commended the Comptrollers for their dedication throughout the retreat. He emphasized that the promotion was both a recognition of their past achievements and a call for greater responsibility. “The rank you now hold places you at the forefront of leadership, where integrity, professionalism, and accountability are paramount. Your decisions will reflect not just on you, but on the entire Service,” DCG Itotoh said.
The retreat also featured a lecture by Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS. Maiwada discussed the significance of effective communication and stakeholder management in achieving the organization’s goals. He emphasized the role of Customs officers as ambassadors of the Service’s integrity and called for transparent engagement with the media and business community to build trust.
The newly promoted Comptrollers, including Usman Yahaya, Murtala Mu’azu, and Josephine Egwakide, expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the retreat and pledged to uphold the values of discipline, excellence, and transparency in their leadership roles.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the Comptroller-General’s reforms, enhancing service delivery, and building stakeholder confidence.
The leadership retreat mark a pivotal moment in the NCS’s efforts to modernize and strengthen its leadership, ensuring that newly promoted officers are fully equipped to meet the challenges of their new positions and drive the Service’s mission forward.
