By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has celebrated the extraordinary achievement of Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Akpevwe Ogboru, popularly known as Tracta 2, who successfully completed a daring 35-day motorbike journey from Nigeria to Belgium.
National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, disclosed in a signed statement that Ogboru arrived triumphantly at the Nigerian Embassy in Brussels at exactly 12:47 p.m. on Thursday, September 4, 2025, after covering a staggering distance of about 10,265 kilometres. Her journey, which commenced on August 1, 2025, took her across two continents and ten different countries before her historic arrival.
According to the NCS, the feat represents not just a test of endurance but also a bold demonstration of courage, resilience, and purposeful advocacy. Undertaken under the theme “Ride for Women Inclusivity and Cross-Border Research”, the expedition was designed to spotlight the importance of gender inclusivity, amplify girl child empowerment initiatives, and highlight cross-border research issues, including connectivity, mobility, and cultural exchange between nations.
Her arrival in Brussels was met with jubilation and admiration at the Nigerian Embassy, where her odyssey was hailed as a source of immense pride to Nigeria. The Service noted that Ogboru’s accomplishment stands as a beacon of inspiration to Customs officers, Nigerians, and the global community, underscoring that with determination and vision, boundaries can indeed be transcended.
The Service further explained that as Ogboru begins her onward journey back to Nigeria, her feat serves as a reaffirmation of the NCS’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. It emphasized that such symbolic adventures project a positive national image, strengthen bilateral ties, and reinforce Nigeria’s leadership in championing conversations around women and child empowerment.
In his official commendation, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, lauded Assistant Comptroller Ogboru for her bravery and dedication. He urged Nigerians to draw inspiration from her pioneering effort, which he described as a landmark in advocacy and personal resilience.
“The Nigeria Customs Service remains committed to creating an enabling environment where such bold initiatives can thrive, contributing not only to institutional growth but also to the advancement of broader societal values,” the CGC affirmed.
