Seme customs, sister agencies bid farewell to PRO Sulaiman, extol his legacy of excellence, humility

“If it were up to me, I would cancel his transfer and make him stay with me longer” – Compt Adenuga

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), on Tuesday, bid a fond farewell to customs Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Isah Sulaiman.

The emotion laden ceremony saw colleagues, heads of sister security agencies, officers, stakholders, community and members of the media praising his outstanding service, professionalism, humility, and dedication to duty.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC), of the command,vComptroller Wale Adenuga, said Sulaiman made his job easier, describing him as an embodiment of humility and one of the best PRO in the entire Customs Service.

“I will truly miss you and I have enjoyed working with you. You will attain greater heights and excel,” Adenuga said.

Getting jobs done with precision, Compt. Adenuga and PRO Sulaiman

Adenuga also acknowledged Sulaiman’s role in stabilizing the command, stating, “He should have left for Apapa earlier, but he was purposely retained in Seme just because of me, so I could stabilise. If I have my way, I would cancel his transfer and make him stay with me longer.”

The Comptroller thanked officers and men of the Command, sister agencies and the media for their continuous support, which he said contributed to improved performance, particularly in revenue generation.

Speaking on behalf of sister agencies along the Lagos-Seme Corridor, senior officers lauded Sulaiman as a consummate professional with outstanding training and delivery. They highlighted his exceptional ability to foster mutual respect in inter-agency relations, praising him as an exemplary image maker who embodies the ideals of a model Customs officer.

Media representatives also hailed Sulaiman as a ‘journalist’s delight’, commending his exceptional accessibility, professionalism, and job expertise.

Seeing, working together: Adenuga and Sulaiman

They vowed to maintain the same warm and productive working relationship with him in his new posting at Apapa Area command of the Nigerian Customs.

The send-forth ceremony, held at the Officers’ Mess featured also formal retirement ceremony for the Head of the Scanning Unit, Deputy Comptroller Audu Samson Edime, whose years of service to the Customs were equally celebrated by officers of sister agencies and well wishers.

Speakers congratulated Edime for what they described as “finishing well,” assuring him that retirement does not mark the end of service to the nation. They noted that with his wealth of experience, the retired officer still has much to contribute to the Nigeria Customs and the country at large.

Speaking on the post-service opportunities available to retired officers, the Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Seme Command, Dr. Nurudeen Audu, described retirement as “not a death sentence,” but a transition into a new phase of life. He advised retirees to remain physically active, keep busy and venture into business and full-scale entrepreneurship to avoid health challenges that may arise from idleness in later years.

L-R: CSC Isah Sulaiman, outgoing PRO Seme Customs; Comptroller Adenuga; Samson Edime, retiring Head of Scanning Unit, Seme Command; Mr. A. Adeoti, Director Seme borderless, Nigerian Shippers Council at the ceremony at Seme

Dr. Audu also disclosed that NAFDAC is prepared to collaborate with retiring military and paramilitary officers by offering various support packages aimed at helping them become successful entrepreneurs after retirement.

In response to Dr. Audu, Comptroller Adenuga, announced that the Command would organise an entrepreneurship lecture for officers nearing retirement, to be facilitated by Dr. Audu, as part of efforts to prepare them for life after service.

One his part, the visibly fulfilled Deputy Comptroller Edime expressed gratitude to God for life, good health and the opportunity to serve the nation. He said he had no regrets about his career in the Service and was proud of his contributions, stressing that he had never been afraid of retirement.

“I will use the time on my hands to do useful things,” he said, thanking the management of the Command, sister agencies and colleagues for their support throughout his years of service”, he said.

In his thank you speech, Sulaiman, who assumed duty as PRO of the Seme Command on February 7, 2025  said he was deeply humbled and profoundly encouraged by the kind words from all present, noting that the send-forth meant a great deal to him as it was the first time he was being celebrated for his work in the presence of stakeholders.

Sulaiman and Compt. Adenuga pull the strings from behind in one accord

He credited Comptroller Adenuga with laying the foundation for his success at the Seme Command, adding that the Service provided him with the platform to serve the country, a responsibility he pledged to continue to discharge to the best of his ability.

Sulaiman confessed his bittersweet emotions, describing Seme Command as ‘home’ and fondly acknowledging the camaraderie he enjoyed with senior officers, who treated him like family, and junior officers, who sought his guidance.

He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Comptroller for cultivating a unified team, leading by example, and fostering an environment that drove Command performance.

He also thanked fellow officers for their unwavering support, sister agencies for their collaborative spirit and knowledge sharing, and the media for their cooperation, urging everyone to extend the same level of support to his successor.