Customs Chief Calls for Unity as Service Hosts Ramadan Iftar in Abuja

By Zainab Uzomah|Abuja

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has called for unity, national service and spiritual reflection as the agency hosted Ramadan Iftar gatherings in Abuja.

According to the Customs Service, the events were organised during the holy month of Ramadan to bring together officers, government officials and stakeholders in an effort to strengthen collaboration and shared values.

The first gathering was held on 4 March at the Dunes Hotel in Abuja, where Mr Adeniyi hosted senior government officials, diplomats, business leaders, security chiefs and members of the Customs management team, including both serving and retired officers. Representatives ofother security agencies and senior media executives were also in attendance.

Speaking at the event, Mr Adeniyi described Ramadan as a period of discipline, reflection and spiritual renewal, urging Nigerians to apply the lessons of the season to their daily lives and national responsibilities.

He said Nigeria’s progress depends on unity and collective commitment, adding that stakeholders must remain dedicated to promoting peace, economic growth and national development.

Ali Muhammad, Director of Home Finance at the Federal Ministry of Finance, praised the Customs Service for reforms aimed at improving trade administration and boosting revenue generation. He highlighted the agency’s increasing use of technology, including the indigenous B’Odogwu digital trade platform, to improve efficiency and transparency in cargo clearance.The Managing Director of Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Jummai Umar-Ajijola, also commended the Customs leadership for promoting innovation and institutional reforms. She noted that the B’Odogwu platform attracted international interest during a recent technology conference in Abu Dhabi.

In a related event, the Customs management also hosted an Iftar dinner for officers at the agency’s headquarters in Maitama on 5 March. The gathering, organised by Trade Modernisation Project Limited, brought together personnel of the service as Muslim officers broke their fast.

Mr Adeniyi urged officers to use the Ramadan period for reflection, compassion and unity, while expressing hope that the spiritual observances of Ramadan and Lent would strengthen solidarity and service to the nation.