The Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, has graduated 50 officers from its Junior Course 21, marking the successful completion of a rigorous three-month training designed to strengthen middle-level management capacity within the Service.
The graduation events according to a press statement issued by the National PRO, Abdullah Maiwada, began with a regimental dinner on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, culminating in a formal ceremony held on Friday, May 2, 2025, at the Ahmad Makarfi Hall of the College. The course forms a critical component of the Nigeria Customs Service’s continuous professional development agenda aimed at equipping officers with the requisite knowledge for higher staff and command responsibilities.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, was represented at both events by Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG) Suleiman Chiroma, who heads the Service’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). In his remarks, DCG Chiroma commended the officers for their discipline and resilience during the course, describing the training as a stepping stone to greater responsibilities in the Customs hierarchy.
“The College has equipped you with the requisite knowledge for higher staff and command responsibilities,” he stated. “Your value to the Service and your fatherland has been greatly enhanced, and you are now better prepared to contribute meaningfully to the attainment of our strategic objectives.”
DCG Chiroma also emphasized the importance of character and professionalism, urging the graduates to uphold the values of the Nigeria Customs Service as they return to the field. “This institution stands on the pillars of discipline, knowledge, and leadership. I charge you to be worthy ambassadors of those ideals wherever you are deployed,” he added.
Also speaking during the ceremony, the Commandant of the College, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Oluyomi Adebakin, congratulated the graduating officers and reiterated the College’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional discipline. She underscored that the Service had made significant investments in their training and expected commensurate commitment in return.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has invested significantly in your development. You must make the most of this opportunity,” she noted. “The College maintains zero tolerance for indiscipline and mediocrity will not be celebrated.”
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates and the award of the Passed Junior Staff Course (PJSC) qualification to all 50 officers. The training covered leadership, strategic communication, Customs operations, ethics, and administrative procedures, among others — all tailored to prepare participants for enhanced responsibility within the Service.
Some of the graduates, who spoke on behalf of their colleagues, expressed gratitude for the quality of instruction and mentorship received during the programme. They described the experience as transformative and pledged to apply the lessons learned in their respective commands.
The Junior Course is a key component of the Service’s broader human capital development strategy and is designed to build a pool of capable leaders who will drive the Nigeria Customs Service’s evolving mission of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and national security.
With their successful completion of the course, the newly graduated officers are expected to take on pivotal roles in Customs commands and formations across the country — helping to shape policy, improve service delivery, and uphold the core values of integrity, efficiency, and accountability.
