BY EMMA PETER
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has honoured two Assistant Comptrollers-General, Mohammed Yusuf and Ibrahim Abba-Aji, as they retired from active service after 35 years of dedicated service to the nation.
The retiring senior officers were celebrated at a retirement ceremony attended by senior officers, colleagues, family members and friends, who paid tribute to their years of commitment, sacrifice and contributions to the growth of the Service.
Leading the tributes, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Finance, Administration, Technical and Support, Kikelomo Adeola, commended Yusuf and Abba-Aji for their dedication and professionalism throughout their careers.
Adeola described retirement as a transition “from pressure to pleasure”, while wishing the retirees good health, happiness and fulfilment as they begin a new phase of their lives.
Also speaking, the DCG Trade and Tariff, Caroline Niagwan, reflected on her years of association with the two officers, acknowledging their contributions to the Service and praying that their future would be better than their present.
The ceremony also featured the presentation of gifts and commemorative cards to the retiring officers. DCG Timi Bomodi presented gifts to the celebrants, while colleagues, family members and friends also presented cards in recognition of their years of service.
In his remarks, ACG Mohammed Yusuf expressed gratitude to God and the management of the Nigeria Customs Service for giving him the opportunity to serve the country.
Reflecting on his 35-year career, Yusuf said: “Life is transient. We never thought we’d leave one day. The good you do stays after you leave; try and discharge your jobs well.”
He also appreciated the management of the Service for its efforts towards improving the welfare of officers.
For his part, ACG Ibrahim Abba-Aji thanked the Nigeria Customs Service and the Comptroller-General, Adewale Adeniyi, for the opportunity to serve and attain the highest levels of responsibility within the institution.
Abba-Aji described retirement as an important milestone that should be embraced positively, saying, “Retirement isn’t a bad thing. Congratulations to all of us for coming this far. Long live the Nigeria Customs Service.”
The ceremony provided an opportunity for the Service to recognise the contributions of the two officers and celebrate their transition from active duty after three and a half decades of service.
The event ended with a cake-cutting ceremony as colleagues, friends and family members joined the retirees to mark the completion of their 35 years of service and wish them fulfilment in retirement.
