From Suleiman Amagbor, in Lagos
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the weekend honoured the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi with the “Outstanding Revenue Collection” accolade at the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service (NEAPS).
Organisers said the ceremony, which took place at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, recognised the significant achievements in revenue generation since Adewale’s appointment as Comptroller-General of Customs in June 2023.
Speaking at the event, the President Tinubu, who was represented by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima explained that the awards were about embedding a culture of recognition and reward in the public service ethos.
Senator Shettima emphasised that public institutions are not personal enterprises and that public servants are employees of the Nigerian people.
Speaking at the sideline of the ceremony, the Customs helmsman expressed delight at the honour done him and affirmed his commitment to advancing Nigeria’s economy through revenue collection and trade facilitation.
He thanked the president, the SGF, and NEAPS for the recognition, stating, “This national recognition is a challenge for the Service to double its efforts in making this country proud. It motivates public officials to dedicate themselves and perform diligently in office.”
Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, urged the award recipients to continue their exemplary work.
According to him, the selected individuals and organisations were chosen based on objective criteria from both the public and private sectors.
Among the 44 recipients of the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President) Senator Ibrahim Hadejia.
Others include Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu State were recognised for their sector-specific interventions.
Other honorees included FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso, President of Dangote Group Alhaji Aliko Dangote, former SGF Boss Mustapha, and Founder/Chairman of Zenith Bank Chief Jim Ovia.
