By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service on Friday, 13 March 2026, honoured retiring Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Dera Nnadi and Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Kingsley Egwu with a ceremonial Pulling-Out Parade in recognition of their decades of dedicated service to the nation.
The ceremony, held at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College in Gwagwalada, Abuja, brought together members of the Customs management team, senior officers, colleagues and well-wishers who gathered to celebrate the careers and professional contributions of the retiring officers.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the occasion offered the Service an opportunity to formally recognise the dedication, discipline and professional impact of the two senior officers.
Represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Training and Doctrine Command, Sulaiman Chiroma, the CGC noted that careers in the Service are not defined solely by ranks attained but also by the values officers uphold and the institutional impact they make.
“This parade is not only a ceremonial farewell. It is also an opportunity for the Nigeria Customs Service to express appreciation for the professionalism, discipline and dedication that these officers demonstrated throughout their years in service,” he said.
Adeniyi described Nnadi as a seasoned officer who served in several strategic commands where the responsibilities of revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security intersect.
According to him, Nnadi’s career was characterised by professionalism and a strong sense of duty, while also contributing significantly to policy discussions on Customs modernisation and Nigeria’s participation in continental trade initiatives.
“He brought intellectual depth to strategic conversations within the Service and also played an important mentoring role for younger officers,” the CGC added.
The Customs boss also commended Egwu for his role in advancing reforms that strengthened Customs administration, particularly through the adoption of technology designed to enhance transparency and operational efficiency.
“His contributions helped lay the foundation for several automated systems that are now supporting the Service’s operations,” Adeniyi noted.
He further recalled Egwu’s tenure as the 10th Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, noting that his emphasis on discipline, knowledge and ethical conduct helped shape the training and professional development of many Customs officers.
Responding on behalf of the retirees, Nnadi expressed gratitude to God and the Nigeria Customs Service for the opportunity to serve the country.
“My journey in the Service has been defined by dedication, learning and commitment to the institutional mandate of revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security,” he said.
He noted that the achievements recorded during his career were made possible through teamwork and shared professional values among officers of the Service.
“The successes we recorded were possible because of the collective effort of officers who remained committed to the ideals of the Service,” Nnadi said.
He urged serving officers to remain disciplined and adaptable, stressing that the changing dynamics of global trade require Customs administrations to continually strengthen their operational and policy frameworks.
“The evolving trade environment demands innovation, modernisation and stronger institutional capacity,” he added.
Also speaking, Egwu described his more than three decades in the Service as both demanding and fulfilling.
“My career in the Nigeria Customs Service has been a journey of learning, growth and collaboration with dedicated colleagues,” he said.
He paid tribute to officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, describing them as heroes whose sacrifices contributed to national security and the protection of the nation’s economic interests.
Egwu urged serving officers to guard their integrity and remain committed to the responsibilities entrusted to them.
“Public service is a privilege that must be carried with honour. Leadership positions are temporary, but the reputation you build through integrity will always endure,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to the Comptroller-General of Customs for the confidence reposed in him through key assignments, including his tenure as Commandant of the College and his subsequent role in the Tariff and Trade Department.
The ceremony concluded with tributes from colleagues, as well as the presentation of honours to celebrate the retiring officers’ decades of service and their contributions to strengthening the institutional capacity of the Nigeria Customs Service.
