By Feemi Anamelechi
The 2025 Comptrollers Retreat of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) wrapped up on Friday, 21 February 2025, with a strong emphasis on discipline, leadership, and professional conduct—a message delivered with passion by Comptroller Haniel Hadison, the newly promoted Comptroller in charge of Special Duties at the Service’s Headquarters.The retreat, which started on Tuesday, 18 February 2025, at the Ahmad Makarfi Hall, Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, was organised to prepare the newly promoted Comptrollers for their new responsibilities.
Over the course of several days, the newly promoted Comptrollers were taken in various sessions that focused on leadership, stakeholder engagement, trade facilitation, and national security.However, the final day of the event stood out, particularly with Comptroller Haniel Hadison’s lecture on ‘Regimentation in the Nigeria Customs Service’ which touched on the core values that define an officer’s conduct, stressing that discipline remains the backbone of Customs operations. Speaking to his colleagues, Comptroller Hadison highlighted the importance of maintaining the customs tradition of regimentation, which includes proper etiquette in addressing senior officers, following the approved dress code, saluting correctly, and being punctual. He reminded them that leadership is not just about authority but about setting an example that others can follow, adding,
“The way we conduct ourselves as senior officers determines the kind of leadership we provide. Junior officers must see us as worthy mentors and role models. If we abandon the principles of discipline and regimentation, we risk losing the respect that holds the Service together.” Comptroller Hadison, meanwhile, cautioned against getting involved in political activities, reminding his colleagues that their duty was to the nation and the Nigeria Customs Service. He also warned that any form of political alignment could compromise their roles as impartial enforcers of government policies.
On his part, the second speaker for the day, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Apapa, delivered a lecture titled “Border Crisis and National Security: An Appraisal.” His session focused on the challenges of cross-border security, smuggling, and revenue collection, reinforcing the role of Customs in strengthening national security.
CAC Olomu praised Comptroller Hadison for his detailed session on regimentation, acknowledging that discipline among officers plays a key role in ensuring effective border management, stating that, “We cannot talk about securing our borders if officers do not maintain discipline within the Service. A well-organised command structure makes our job easier, and I commend Comptroller Hadison for reminding us of that.” Meanwhile, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, had earlier recognised Comptroller Haniel Hadison’s dedication to upholding discipline and professionalism when he declared the retreat open on Tuesday, 18 February 2025.CGC Adeniyi described Hadison as an officer who has consistently led by example, urging other Comptrollers to learn from his commitment to ethical leadership, adding, “Comptroller Hadison represents the ideals of what a Customs officer should be.
His dedication to discipline and regimentation is worth emulating, and I encourage all of you to uphold these principles as you take on greater responsibilities.”The Comptroller-General stressed that senior officers must serve as pillars of integrity and professionalism, ensuring that Customs operations remain effective and respected.
