By Oluyinka Onigbinde
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has retired seven senior officers in Zone ‘A’, including the Zonal Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller-General Mohammed Babandede, after a combined career spanning several decades in the service.
The other retiring officers are the Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Customs Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba; CAC, Lagos Free Trade Zone, Comptroller Hawah Abubakar; CAC, Western Marine Command, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi; CAC, Murtala Muhammed International Airport Command, Comptroller Chidi Nwokorie; CAC, Ogun II Command, Comptroller O.O. Akingbade; and CAC, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone ‘A’, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu.
Babandede, who spent 35 years in the Customs Service, was described by colleagues as a problem solver, mentor and father figure who provided purposeful leadership and encouraged officers to succeed in their various commands.
The officers and well-wishers spoke during a retirement send-off organised in honour of Babandede in Lagos on Thursday. The ceremony attracted Customs comptrollers, senior officers, family members, friends and other stakeholders.
Babandede expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for enabling him to complete 35 years of service without accident, kidnapping or other major mishap, describing the Nigeria Customs Service as his second family.
He also thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adeniyi, for giving him the opportunity to serve in Zone ‘A’ and contribute to national development.
The retiring ACG said he joined the Customs Service at the age of 24 shortly after completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), noting that 35 of his 59 years had been spent serving the country through the NCS.
According to him, his journey from primary school through university and eventually into the Customs Service was made possible by perseverance, discipline, dedication and the grace of God.
Babandede also acknowledged the support of his wife, family members, friends and colleagues, stressing that the demands of the Customs profession, like life itself, came with challenges that required patience, understanding and strong family support.
He commended officers and men of the Service for their cooperation throughout his years in service and urged them to remain disciplined, uphold the integrity of the NCS and continue to contribute to revenue generation, trade facilitation and national economic development.
He further urged the Service to sustain its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, particularly in health and education, saying such interventions would continue to benefit host communities and strengthen relations between the Service and the public.
Babandede encouraged serving officers to aspire to the highest levels of their careers and remain committed to the development of the Nigerian economy and facilitation of legitimate trade.
He said his retirement should not be regarded as a complete separation from the Customs family, but as a transition into another phase of life and service to humanity.
Speaking on behalf of the retiring officers, Comptroller Chidi Nwokorie urged serving Customs officers to begin planning for retirement early while maintaining professionalism, quality leadership and dedication to duty.
Nwokorie said officers should strive to leave the Service with honour, adding that retirement should be approached with gratitude and confidence rather than fear of the unknown.
He advised retirees to avoid comparing life after Customs with their experiences in active service, saying such comparisons could create unnecessary frustration during the transition to civilian life.
The CAC, Lagos Free Trade Zone, Comptroller Hawah Abubakar, thanked God for a successful career and expressed optimism that life after retirement would bring greater opportunities and fulfilment.
She also commended the leadership of the Comptroller-General and Babandede for their mentorship, while urging serving officers to remain united, support one another and sustain the bond within the Customs family.
Similarly, Comptroller Joseph Anani of the Tin Can Island Customs Command described Babandede as a teacher and father figure who consistently provided guidance and encouragement to officers under his leadership.
Comptroller Gbenga Otunla of the Murtala Muhammed Area Command also described the retiring ACG as a problem solver, urging serving officers to remain patient, relevant and committed to their responsibilities.
Another colleague, Comptroller Dr Roland Nwankwo, described Babandede as a passionate leader who encouraged officers to prioritise their health for effective performance.
Babandede’s brother, Abdullahi Babandede, said the retiring officer remained disciplined, principled and firm in the discharge of his responsibilities, adding that he never compromised the ethics and values of the Customs Service.
Assistant Comptroller Chioma Azasiri described him as a mentor and problem solver who consistently exceeded expectations and remained committed to the interests of the Service and the nation.
The Managing Director of M Town Hotel, Malam Muhammed Maigeri, described Babandede as a brother and friend who encouraged people to succeed regardless of their background or status.
The retiring ACG’s wife, Aminah Babandede, praised her husband for 35 years of dedicated service, describing him as committed, responsible and resilient in the face of career challenges.
She said retirement marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life, rather than an end, adding that the family was proud of his legacy of service, integrity and honour.
She prayed for her husband to enjoy good health, happiness and fulfilment in retirement, while expressing hope that they would have many more years together to travel, create memories and enjoy the next phase
