By Nkechi Eze
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, emerged as one of the most celebrated honourees at the 2025 Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS), receiving the prestigious Outstanding Revenue Collection Award during a ceremony held on Sunday, 7 December 2025, at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The award ceremony, which forms part of the second edition of NEAPS, was organised by The Best Strategic (TBS) Media in collaboration with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF) to recognise individuals and institutions delivering exemplary service to the nation. It attracted a distinguished audience, including governors, CEOs of major federal agencies, senior government officials, and leaders of strategic public institutions.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, said CGC Adeniyi was selected from a list of 44 exceptionally qualified recipients after a rigorous evaluation of public service performance nationwide. He noted that the Comptroller-General’s achievements reflect the values of discipline, transparency and professionalism that define effective public leadership.
Akume commended Adeniyi for what he described as “commendable consistency in surpassing revenue targets, tightening border management processes and restoring public confidence in institutional service delivery.” He added that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under Adeniyi has shown remarkable stability and credibility, demonstrating the transformative impact of effective leadership at a time when Nigeria is pushing for economic renewal.
According to the SGF, the purpose of NEAPS is not only to honour excellence but also to strengthen a culture of accountability and inspire public servants to uphold merit and integrity. “Public offices are held in trust for the Nigerian people,” he said, emphasising that each awardee represents the nation’s aspiration for a reformed and results-driven public sector.
Speaking shortly after receiving the award, CGC Adeniyi expressed heartfelt appreciation to President Tinubu, the SGF and the award organisers for the recognition. He described the honour as both humbling and motivating, noting that it symbolises the collective effort of the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“This award is a personal inspiration but, more importantly, a tribute to the dedication of the officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said. Adeniyi dedicated the award to the entire NCS workforce, stressing that it would further lift morale as the Service intensifies its mandate in three core areas: strengthening revenue collection, securing Nigeria’s borders and advancing efficient trade facilitation.
He added that the recognition serves as a renewed call to action: “This recognition challenges us to work even harder. It reinforces our commitment to making this country proud through credible revenue administration and service that reflects integrity and excellence.”
CGC Adeniyi was one of the standout figures at the ceremony, which featured notable attendees including the Governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Kano and Zamfara States, as well as the Director-General of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), among other senior public officials. Their presence underscored the national significance of NEAPS as an avenue to celebrate high-performing individuals and institutions whose work continues to shape governance, economic stability and national development.
With the 2025 accolade, Adeniyi’s leadership at the NCS receives yet another affirmation, reinforcing his ongoing reforms to modernise customs operations, close revenue leakages, strengthen enforcement mechanisms and build a more transparent service that aligns with global customs standards.
The NEAPS 2025 ceremony thus not only spotlighted institutional excellence but also reaffirmed the central role of the Nigeria Customs Service in Nigeria’s economic transformation, an effort now further energised by the Comptroller-General’s national recognition for outstanding revenue performance.
