From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has been nominated for The Sun Newspaper’s Public Service of the Year Award for 2024.
This was announced on Thursday by the Managing Director of The Sun Newspaper, Mr Onuoha Ukeh, who led a high-power delegation of his management team on a courtesy visit to the Comptroller General of Customs in Abuja.
While receiving the letter of nomination and invitation for the award, Adeniyi described the nomination for the Public Service of the Year Award as encouraging and exciting. He said his commitment is not aimed at receiving accolades, but that he sees himself as a servant of the people.
Adeniyi said that the endorsement by The Sun Newspaper, being one of the leading media organisations in Nigeria, is a testament that people are feeling the impact of the progress achieved in the Nigeria Customs Service.
While commending the professional approach of The Sun Newspaper in the dissemination of information, and the selection team for the gesture of his recognition, he said, “I humbly accept this award as a demonstration that service to humanity can be rewarding. It’s proof that beyond my very little corner, you have recognised what we have done.”
Speaking on his career development over the years, Adeniyi noted that he had “a very distinguished career in Media and Communication” and expressed gratitude to the NCS for his career development, which includes a robust working relationship with seven past Comptrollers General of Customs.
“Having worked with seven past Comptrollers General of Customs, I was at a vantage position to learn from them. When I was appointed as the CGC, it was very easy for me to choose and learn from some of their ideas and experience in the discharge of my duties.”
Adeniyi disclosed that the ongoing reforms in the Nigeria Customs Service are guided by three major areas: consolidation, collaboration and innovation, which, he noted, are the driving forces for the robust success and turnaround in the service.
“Our strategic engagements and collaborative approaches have yielded remarkable results across our core statutory responsibilities.
“Through this approach, we have opened up the Nigeria Customs Service to demystify the negative stories and views about the service.”
He explained that the reforms policy in the service are aimed at encouraging and facilitating trade and ensuring security at the seaports and making them more functional to deliver better management in customs.
Speaking earlier, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Newspapers, Onuoha Ukeh, said the nomination of the Comptroller General by the Board of Editors of The Sun Newspapers was solely based on merit.
He chronicled the achievements of the Comptroller General of Customs since his appointment, both in acting and substantive capacity, describing them as laudable milestones that cannot go unnoticed.
“Under your stewardship, Nigeria Customs Service has witnessed a remarkable transformation.
“A historic moment arrived recently with the seizure of contraband items worth N28m in two months and hitting its revenue target of N5.7 trillion with more than one month remaining in the fiscal year,” Ukeh stated.
The Managing Director, who was in the company of the Daily Editor, Mr Iheanacho Nwosu; Editor, Nation’s Capital and the North, Adetutu-Folasade-Koyi; and the Business Development Manager, Nnena Shuaib, said the award, slated for 1 March 2025 at Eko Hotel, Lagos, will be one of the first and largest gatherings organised by The Sun Newspapers, and they are looking forward to receiving the CGS and his entourage in person.