By Nkechi Eze
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, on Monday, July 27, 2025, paid a solemn visit to the State House Press Gallery in Abuja, where he honoured the memory of the late Dr. Leon Usigbe, the Abuja Bureau Chief of the Nigerian Tribune newspaper, who passed away recently.
During the emotional visit, CGC Adeniyi signed the condolence register opened by the State House Press Corps, joining a growing number of top government officials and media professionals who have continued to pay tribute to the highly respected journalist. In his remarks, the Customs boss described Dr. Usigbe as a seasoned and principled journalist whose professionalism and dedication left an indelible mark on Nigerian journalism.
“We have lost a giant in the media landscape,” Adeniyi wrote in the condolence book. “Dr. Usigbe was a journalist of uncommon excellence whose dedication to truth and fairness made him a reference point for many in the profession.”
The Customs Comptroller-General, who has long championed transparency and robust engagement with the media, was visibly moved as he reflected on the late journalist’s contributions to public discourse, national development, and media ethics. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, the management and editorial staff of the Nigerian Tribune, and members of the State House Press Corps, urging them to take solace in the enduring legacy that Dr. Usigbe leaves behind.
“His was a voice that consistently reminded us of the sacred duty of journalism, to inform, to educate, and to hold power accountable with courage and balance,” Adeniyi noted, describing the deceased as “a professional who carried out his duties with rare depth, integrity, and commitment to the ideals of journalism.”
Dr. Usigbe, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s foremost political correspondents, built a distinguished career reporting from the State House and covering national politics with piercing insight and fearless commentary. His death has sparked a wave of grief and tributes from across Nigeria’s media and public institutions, with colleagues, political leaders, and civil society groups acknowledging his immense contributions to national dialogue and democratic accountability.
Known for his incisive reporting, sharp analysis, and unwavering professionalism, Dr. Usigbe earned the respect of colleagues and newsmakers alike, becoming a trusted figure in the corridors of power and a mentor to many younger journalists. His work, often marked by fairness and thoroughness, was seen as a model of responsible journalism at a time when the media continues to play a critical role in shaping public policy and governance.
As more visitors continue to sign the condolence register at the State House Press Gallery, tributes to Dr. Usigbe continue to pour in, with many remembering him not only as a journalist but as a public intellectual and patriot. His passing, many say, marks the end of a significant chapter in Nigeria’s contemporary media history.
