Society
35 Years Of National Service: Customs Course 92 Set Celebrates Retirement
most importantly, service to the fatherland.
The Nigeria Customs Service Basic Course 92 celebrated 35 years of active service on Saturday, 7 November 2026, marking commitment, sacrifice, resilience, friendship, and, most importantly, service to the fatherland.
Speaking at the event held in Shangisha, Lagos, retired Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Dera Nnadi said the occasion was an opportunity to reflect, appreciate, and gather to rejoice with colleagues leaving active service.
“We have come to say thank you and to honour men and women whose professional journeys have contributed in no small measure to the growth and development of the country. I can remember 1992 when we all had great expectations, youthful enthusiasm, and great ambitions. Today, the Nigeria Customs Service has become more than a place of employment; it is a platform for national service,” he said.
Nnadi said working as an officer gave him the privilege of meeting different cultures, facing uncertainty, and asking difficult questions. He advised those still in active service not to allow personal ambitions to cloud their professional expectations.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Planning Committee for the ceremony, retired Chief Superintendent of Customs Chukwuemeka Agu, described the event as a celebration of a chapter that defined their youth, strength, identity, and 35 years of answering the national call of duty.
“From the creeks of Port Harcourt to the terrain of Idiroko, we stood in storms, in rain, in danger, and at night to protect the economy. We missed our children’s birthdays, Christmas and Salah at home, and family meetings. For some of us, we are not retired from life but have only changed our posting,” he said.
Retirees at the event described their years of national service as ones filled with rich experiences and interesting moments. After refreshments and group photographs, the event closed on a merry note, with family and well-wishers bidding the retirees farewell and wishing them well in their future endeavours.
