By Nkechi Eze
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has honoured two Assistant Comptrollers-General, Mohammed Yusuf and Ibrahim Abba-Aji, as they bowed out of service after 35 years of dedicated service to the nation.
The retirement ceremony, which brought together senior officers and colleagues of the retirees, celebrated their contributions to the growth and development of the Service, as well as their years of commitment to duty.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Finance, Administration, Technical and Support, Kikelomo Adeola, described retirement as a transition “from pressure to pleasure,” while acknowledging the sacrifices and professional commitment of the two officers throughout their careers.
The Deputy Comptroller-General, Trade and Tariff, Caroline Niagwan, also paid tribute to Yusuf and Abba-Aji, commending their years of service and the impact they made during their time in the NCS.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Comptroller-General, Timi Bomodi, presented gifts to the retiring officers in recognition of their contributions to the Service.
Yusuf, reflecting on his 35 years in the NCS, urged serving officers to remain committed to their responsibilities, stressing that the impact of an officer’s conduct extends beyond their period in service.
“Life is transient. We never thought we’d leave one day. The good you do stays after you leave; try and discharge your jobs well,” he said.
He also commended the Service for improvements in the welfare of its personnel, noting the importance of continued attention to the well-being of officers.
In his remarks, Abba-Aji described retirement as a natural stage in every career and congratulated his colleagues for reaching the milestone.
“Retirement isn’t a bad thing. Congratulations to all of us for coming this far. Long live the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.
The ceremony ended with the cutting of the retirement cake as colleagues, friends and senior officers joined the two retirees in marking the end of their 35-year careers in the Nigeria Customs Service.
