Customs Officers and the Deeper Meaning of Ramadan

Customs Officers and the Deeper Meaning of Ramadan

By Abdulsalam Mahmud,

Ramadan is a month that calls for reflection, discipline and acts of kindness. It is a time when Muslims across the world observe fasting, not just as a religious obligation but as a means to cultivate self-restraint and empathy for those who struggle daily with hunger and hardship.

Beyond personal devotion, the essence of Ramadan extends to fostering a sense of duty and service to the community, especially for those in positions of authority. Nowhere is this expectation more pronounced than within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), an institution whose officers interact daily with traders, border communities and the public.

Customs personnel are not merely enforcers of trade laws; they are guardians of economic integrity, ambassadors of national security and most importantly, public servants. In the spirit of Ramadan, their roles take on a deeper meaning—one that transcends revenue collection and anti-smuggling operations.

It becomes a call to embrace fairness, humility and a renewed sense of responsibility to the people they serve. It is in this context that the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has urged officers and stakeholders to align their professional conduct with the core values of Ramadan.

Recognizing that service to the nation is incomplete without service to humanity, he recently emphasized the need for Customs personnel to embody charity, self-discipline and community spirit—principles that form the bedrock of a just and compassionate society.

CGC Adeniyi spoke at an Iftar (breaking of fast) dinner organised by Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) Limited at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja.

The event, attended by hundreds of senior and junior officers and stakeholders from various organisations, provided a platform for reflecting on Ramadan’s lessons and the importance of giving back to the community.

In his remarks at the gathering, Adeniyi underscored the significance of piety, self-discipline and devotion, noting that fasting offers an opportunity to develop a more profound sense of empathy for the less privileged.

“Charity teaches us to care for the less privileged. Beyond personal devotion and the discipline we cultivate during this period, fasting allows us to experience, even if briefly, what those who cannot afford to eat go through daily,” he said.

The Customs boss also highlighted the unique spiritual alignment between Ramadan and Lent, stating that the simultaneous observance of both fasting periods by Muslims and Christians presents a unified experience of sacrifice and reflection.

“For the second or third time in a row, we are witnessing Ramadan running simultaneously with the Lent period. What this means is that, at one time, all of us are experiencing the discipline of giving up food and drink, helping us understand the struggles of those who lack basic needs.

“Therefore, this is a period to think about our communities and obligations to those around us,” CGC Adeniyi said. He linked this principle of selflessness and service to the Nigeria Customs’ new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, “Customs Cares,” which focuses on community development, education, healthcare and social investments.

“What we are doing today is a stepping stone for what we have chosen to do — the launch of our Corporate Social Responsibility programme. In the true spirit of Ramadan and Lent, I urge all of us to embrace service to humanity as a guiding principle, as it epitomises who we are as an organisation,” he added.

Reinforcing the Customs Service’s dual mandate of national duty and social responsibility, Adeniyi reminded officers that their commitment to public service extends beyond revenue collection and border security to uplift the communities in which they operate.

“We are described as a Service—the Nigeria Customs Service. Our duty goes beyond enforcing trade laws; we also have an obligation to serve our community. Let us embody this spirit not only during Ramadan and Lent but as a defining part of our daily work,” he stressed.

He expressed his gratitude to the Chairman of TMP and his team for organising the event and commended the serene atmosphere created for the Iftar. The CGC prayed for divine blessings, peace and prosperity for Nigeria, and wished all officers and stakeholders to witness many more Ramadan seasons in good health.

“May Almighty Allah grant us the opportunity to witness many more Ramadan seasons in our lives. We pray for a better Nigeria and that our acts of service will contribute to a more compassionate and united nation,” he stated.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of TMP, Saleh Ahmadu, appreciated the gathering for honoring the invitation and prayed that God Almighty would reward each and every person abundantly. As this year’s Ramadan draws to a close, the call for Customs officers to uphold its values becomes even more significant.

The lessons of self-discipline, fairness and charity cultivated during this sacred month should not fade with the sighting of the new moon of Shawwal. Instead, they should serve as a guiding principle for officers in their daily interactions with traders, border communities and the public.

True service extends beyond enforcing trade laws—it is about fostering trust, upholding integrity and ensuring that the people they serve feel the impact of justice and compassion. This renewed emphasis on ethical conduct and social responsibility within the Customs Service could serve as a model for other government institutions.

If public officers across sectors embrace the principles of self-discipline, charity and fairness—not just in Ramadan but throughout the year—Nigeria would witness a transformation in governance and public service delivery. Leadership, after all, is not merely about authority but about the values that define those who hold power.

The spirit of Ramadan, as championed by CGC Adeniyi, is one that should endure beyond the fasting season. Customs officers who internalize these lessons will not only strengthen their institution, but also deepen their connection with the communities they serve.

In the end, a service that truly cares for its people is one that earns their respect, support and loyalty—qualities that make both the nation and its institutions stronger.

Mahmud, Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, can be reached at: [email protected].