By Harriet Tornguvan
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi II, has praised the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, describing his stewardship of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and commitment to community development as a source of pride to the ancient Ife Kingdom and the Modakeke community.
The revered monarch made the remarks on Thursday during the annual Eid-el-Kabir gathering hosted by the Customs boss at his residence in Modakeke, Osun State.
The event drew traditional rulers, political leaders, senior Customs officers, community stakeholders, family members, friends, and associates.
Oba Ogunwusi cited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s public commendation of Adeniyi as evidence of the confidence reposed in the Customs chief and the results being achieved under his leadership.
“We are very proud of him and the work he is doing. When Mr President publicly expressed satisfaction with his performance, it was not a casual statement. It reflects trust in his capacity and the results he is delivering. What he is doing in the Customs Service and in the community shows that he is a unifier,” the monarch said.
Reaffirming the support of the Ife Kingdom for the Comptroller-General, the Ooni noted that Adeniyi’s ability to foster unity and build relationships reflects the essence of leadership.
“He brings people together, and that is what leadership is about. We will continue to stand by him and pray for him,” he added.
Addressing guests at the gathering, Adeniyi expressed appreciation to the Ooni of Ife, community leaders, family members, friends, associates, and well-wishers for their continued support.
The Customs boss described Eid-el-Kabir as a season that reminds humanity of the virtues of sacrifice, gratitude, obedience, and service to others.
According to him, beyond the festivities, the occasion serves as an opportunity to reconnect with people, strengthen relationships, and reflect on the collective responsibility of building stronger communities and a better nation.
Adeniyi stated that the Nigeria Customs Service has continued to record notable progress in revenue generation, trade facilitation, anti-smuggling operations, technological innovation, and corporate social responsibility initiatives in line with the economic priorities of the Federal Government.
He said the Service remains focused on supporting President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through reforms designed to facilitate legitimate trade, strengthen national security, improve compliance, and create opportunities for economic growth.
The Comptroller-General added that the Service has sustained investments in community-focused interventions across the country, including educational support programmes, healthcare initiatives, and other projects aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerians.
He pledged that Customs would continue pursuing reforms to strengthen its operations and deliver greater value to the nation while maintaining professionalism, transparency, and service excellence.
Adeniyi also expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve and assured Nigerians of the Service’s commitment to supporting government policies geared towards economic prosperity and national development.
