By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has received recognition for its contributions to border security, trade facilitation and national economic protection, with the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) honouring its Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, for leadership in advancing the Service’s operational efficiency and public communication.
Adeniyi received the awards on behalf of the Service at DECAN’s 2026 Conference and Awards Ceremony held in Abuja on October 12, in recognition of the NCS’s efforts to combat smuggling, facilitate legitimate trade, protect the national economy and strengthen stakeholder engagement.
The awards also acknowledged the Service’s commitment to effective public communication and transparency in the discharge of its statutory responsibilities, particularly in promoting public understanding of its operations and modernisation initiatives.
DECAN commended the Customs Service for intensifying anti-smuggling operations, strengthening intelligence-driven enforcement, improving revenue generation and deploying technology to facilitate legitimate trade while combating trans-border crimes.
The association also recognised the role of the NCS National Public Relations Officer in promoting transparency, public awareness and stakeholder engagement, noting that effective communication remained essential to building public confidence in Customs operations.
It further highlighted the growing importance of technology, data analytics, intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration in tackling smuggling, trafficking and other illicit cross-border activities, while safeguarding Nigeria’s economic interests.
The recognition comes amid ongoing efforts by the Nigeria Customs Service to modernise its operations, strengthen border management and improve trade processes in support of the Federal Government’s economic objectives.
The awards also underscore the importance of combining intelligence-led enforcement with effective public communication in addressing contemporary security challenges and enhancing cooperation between security institutions and the public.
The DECAN conference, themed, “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security,” brought together senior military and security officials, government representatives, policymakers and journalists to examine emerging threats and strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
Participants discussed the role of technological innovation, intelligence sharing, coordinated operations and strategic communication in responding to the country’s evolving security challenges.
DECAN is a professional association of journalists covering defence, security and military affairs in Nigeria, with a mandate to promote accurate and responsible security reporting and foster constructive engagement among the media, government and security institutions.
