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The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi and 11 senior Customs officers will be honoured by the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) for their contributions to customs administration, revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations and national economic development.
MARCON said the awards recognise exemplary leadership, professionalism, innovation and operational excellence that have strengthened Nigeria’s maritime, trade and border management system.
Adeniyi will receive the MARCON Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of what the organisation described as his transformational leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service. It credited him with driving unprecedented revenue growth, institutional reforms and technology-driven customs operations.
The organisation highlighted the implementation of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System, support for the National Single Window initiative, expansion of the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, strengthened anti-smuggling operations, the Customs Cares Corporate Social Responsibility initiative and his re-election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organization Council as key milestones under his leadership.
Among other award recipients is Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, Controller of the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone A, who will receive the MARCON Excellence Award in Anti-Smuggling Operations and Economic Protection for intelligence-led enforcement operations and sustained suppression of smuggling activities across the South-West.
Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila, Customs Area Controller of the Seme Command, will receive the Trade Facilitation and Border Security Excellence Award for balancing border security with seamless trade facilitation, while Comptroller Bishir Abdullahi Balogun of FOU Zone C will be honoured for his anti-smuggling enforcement and contributions to protecting national revenue.
The organisation will also honour Comptroller Hauwa Abubakar, Customs Area Controller of the Lagos Free Trade Zone Command, with the Revenue Generation and Trade Facilitation Excellence Award for improving revenue collection and facilitating trade at the Lagos Free Trade Zone and Lekki Deep Sea Port.
Comptroller Aliyu Alkali of Port Harcourt Area II Command will receive the Excellence Award in Revenue Generation and Industrial Trade Facilitation, while Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku of Port Harcourt Area I Command will be recognised for promoting trade facilitation and non-oil exports.
Other recipients include Comptroller Usman Yahaya of the Ibeto Area V Seaport Command, Comptroller Olusola Akingbade of Ogun II Command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, Acting Customs Area Controller of Ogun I Command, Deputy Comptroller Usman Adamu, Acting Controller of Kano/Jigawa Area Command, and Deputy Comptroller Wale Adewole, Acting Customs Area Controller of Oyo/Osun Area Command.
Chairman of the MARCON 2026 Conference Planning Committee, Paul Ogbuokiri, said the officers were selected based on their measurable achievements in revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations, border security and institutional reforms.
“We are honouring officers whose leadership has produced measurable results in revenue generation, trade facilitation, border security, anti-smuggling operations and institutional reforms. Through their commitment to professionalism, innovation and public service, they have strengthened the Nigeria Customs Service and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s economic development.
“MARCON believes that recognising excellence will inspire even greater service and reinforce the culture of accountability, integrity and outstanding performance within the maritime sector,” Ogbuokiri said.
The awards will be presented at the MARCON 2026 Annual Conference scheduled for July 30 at Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The conference is expected to attract top officials from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority, and other key stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime and trade sectors.
