By Hyacinth Nwafor
In a ceremony steeped in nostalgia, pride and institutional gratitude, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Tuesday formally bid farewell to one of its most respected senior officers, Deputy Comptroller-General Dera Anselm Francis Nnadi mni (rtd), whose retirement marks the closing chapter of a remarkable career defined by discipline, loyalty and unwavering service to the nation.
The colourful send-off held at the Service Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, drew an impressive gathering of the Customs management team, senior officers, family members and well-wishers who converged to celebrate a man many described as a quintessential officer and gentleman of the Service.
Adding deeper symbolism to the occasion was the coincidence of the ceremony with Nnadi’s 60th birthday, turning the event into a rare double celebration, one that honoured both a milestone age and a lifetime devoted to safeguarding Nigeria’s economic frontiers.
For many within the Customs hierarchy, the event was more than a retirement ceremony; it was a reflective moment on the enduring legacy of a quiet but resolute officer whose journey through the ranks mirrored the ideals of professionalism and institutional loyalty.
Leading the tributes, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, described the retiring officer as a distinguished professional whose commitment to duty, integrity and leadership contributed immensely to strengthening the operational culture of the Nigeria Customs Service.
According to the CGC, Nnadi’s career represented the very essence of the Customs mandate, balancing revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security with uncommon discipline and strategic insight.
“Today is not merely about retirement; it is a moment of gratitude,” Adeniyi remarked. “We celebrate a colleague whose service embodies the values that sustain this institution and whose career reminds younger officers of the honour and responsibility that come with the uniform.”
Beyond the formal commendations, Adeniyi also spoke warmly of the personal bond he shares with the retiree, revealing that their relationship transcends official interactions to include longstanding family ties, an association that further underscores the camaraderie often forged within the Service.
Colleagues who served alongside Nnadi painted a portrait of a leader known for calm authority, mentorship and firm adherence to professional ethics, recalling how his guidance helped shape the careers of many younger officers while reinforcing institutional discipline across various commands.
For those who encountered him in operational theatres, Nnadi’s reputation was built on quiet effectiveness rather than loud declarations, an officer who believed deeply in the dignity of service and the importance of leaving institutions stronger than he met them.
In his response, the retired Deputy Comptroller-General expressed profound gratitude to the Comptroller-General, the management team and officers of the Service for the cooperation and support that defined his years in uniform, describing his journey in the Nigeria Customs Service as one of growth, fulfilment and national duty.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of commemorative awards, gift items and symbolic photographs, capturing a final institutional salute to a man whose career tells a larger story, the story of a service man who gave his best years to the protection of Nigeria’s borders and the strengthening of one of its most strategic national institutions.