Why Customs Is Giving Out Trophies — And Why It Matters for Nigerian Trade
_Recognition as Policy: How Rewarding Professionalism Is Becoming a Reform Tool_ By Lod Onyeji PORT HARCOURT — On Thursday, 23 July 2026, the Nigeria Customs Service did something it rarely did a decade ago: it threw a party for its own communicators. At the closing dinner of the 2026 NCS Public Relations Conference, the Service honored officers for excellence in public relations, dedication, and professionalism. CGC Adewale Adeniyi, MFR received the Lifetime Achievement Award for institutionalizing strategic communication. Other recipients included SC Elizabeth Anawanti, SC Umar Abdullahi, for Distinguished Service in PR; CSC Nuruddeen Sa’idu and CSC Yusuf for contributions to the PR Unit; and CSC Lukman Abdullahi-Lagos who won the Alex Akiyenyele Award for PRO of the Year. The message from DC Abdullahi Maiwada, National PRO, was direct: “Recognising excellence is one of the most effective ways of motivating officers to do more.” That is not sentiment. It is managemen...
