Adeniyi Calls for Discipline and Teamwork as Customs Moves to Revive Inter-Zonal Games

By Stella Okocha 

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has urged officers to uphold discipline, teamwork and strategic thinking, describing these values as essential to effective Customs operations.

Adeniyi made the call on the 5th of September, 2026, at the closing ceremony of the Zone A Customs Inter-Command Games held at the Customs Training College,ikeja, where he commended the participating commands for their impressive performances and advocated the revival of inter-zonal competitions to promote unity and healthy rivalry among officers.

The Comptroller-General said the two weeks sporting activities which started on the 17th of August, 2026, should extend beyond the pursuit of trophies and medals, stressing that the discipline cultivated through sports was equally important to patrol, enforcement and revenue-collection operations.

He also called for the improvement of sporting infrastructure across Customs formations, noting that facilities at the Customs Training College had remained largely unchanged since he trained there more than 30 years ago.

Adeniyi disclosed that the proposed new Customs Training College in Iperu, Ogun State, would include modern sporting facilities. He added that temporary facilities could be provided at the existing college to support recruits undergoing training.

According to him, the NCS has made significant contributions to Nigerian sports, producing teams and athletes that have excelled in volleyball, basketball, football, beach volleyball and athletics. He also disclosed that the Service was constructing an ultra-modern sports facility at one of its barracks in Kano.

The Comptroller-General further urged the Service to revive its inter-zonal games following the completion of the zonal competitions. He recalled that similar “Zona Games” had previously been held in Kano, Port Harcourt and Makurdi.

He commended the Zone A organising committee and participating commands for the well organised and colourful event, with particular recognition for Western Marine’s creative parade outfit and PTML’s coordinated colours.

The games featured Apapa, Tin-Can Island, PTML, Idi-Iroko, Seme, Lilypond and Western Marine Commands, alongside representatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Adeniyi congratulated the winners and encouraged the other participants to prepare for future competitions. He stressed that the values of sportsmanship, discipline and teamwork must extend beyond the sporting arena and inform the Service’s daily operations.