CSC Lawal Leads Compliance Team to Historic Victory, Sweeps Five Awards at Ogun I Customs Gala

CSC Lawal Leads Compliance Team to Historic Victory, Sweeps Five Awards at Ogun I Customs Gala

By Temidayo Babalola 

Chief Superintendent of Customs, CSC M.O. Lawal often described as small in stature but formidable in leadership and  popularly known as “Amotekun” among colleagues and stakeholders, a nickname that reflects his courage, resilience and unwavering commitment to enforcement duties has emerged the most outstanding officer of the night, setting a historic record by winning five major awards for exceptional leadership and operational performance at the 2025 Annual Awards Gala Night of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, TMnews can report.

The prestigious ceremony, which attracted top Customs officers, sister security agencies, traditional rulers and key stakeholders, celebrated dedication, professionalism and operational excellence within the Command. The event was chaired by DC Yusuf, Chairman of the Awards Committee, who described the gala as a platform to honour innovation, integrity and outstanding service.

Addressing guests, DC Yusuf noted that the awards were the outcome of a rigorous and transparent selection process, carefully evaluating the performance of coordinators, Officers-in-Charge (OiCs) and patrol leaders from January to date. He commended officers for their resilience in tackling the challenges of vast border areas and increasingly sophisticated smuggling networks.

“This ceremony is not just about celebrating past achievements,” Yusuf said. “It is about setting higher standards and inspiring our officers to uphold the values of professionalism as enshrined in the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023.”

The night’s biggest highlight was the dominant performance of the Compliance Team coordinated by CSC M.O. Lawal at Idi-Iroko. Under his leadership, the team swept five fiercely contested categories, affirming its reputation as a formidable force in enforcement operations across the Command.

The awards won by Lawal’s team include:

Patrol Team with Highest Number of Seizures for the Year

Patrol Team with Highest Value of Seizures

Team with Highest Seizures of Foreign Vehicles

Team with Highest Seizures of Rice

Team with Single Highest Seizure of Duty Paid Value

This remarkable achievement made CSC Lawal the most decorated officer at the 2025 Awards Gala.

In his acceptance remarks, CSC Lawal dedicated the honours to his team and collaborating security agencies, particularly the Nigerian Army, describing the awards as a collective victory driven by teamwork, discipline and shared commitment to national duty.

The Ag. Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, described the awards initiative as a morale booster aimed at rewarding excellence and motivating officers to give their best.

“One officer bagged five awards because he is transparent, capable and hardworking,” Afeni said. “I have known him for a while, and this recognition is truly well deserved.”

He added that healthy competition among officers would strengthen the Command and encouraged others to strive for excellence in subsequent years. Afeni also disclosed that Ogun I Command recorded significant enforcement and revenue achievements in 2025, expressing optimism that 2026 would be a breakthrough year.

“We are putting the right structures in place to make Ogun I Command not only an enforcement hub but also a strong revenue-generating zone,” he said.

The gala featured Team Awards, Individual Awards, Special Recognition Awards and Complimentary Awards, honouring patrol teams, outstations and officers who transformed routine duties into distinguished service.

As the ceremony drew to a close, the message was clear: leadership, integrity and hard work will always be rewarded. For CSC M.O. Lawal, the five-award triumph was more than personal success, it was a powerful testament to effective leadership and an inspiring benchmark for the Nigeria Customs Service in the year ahead.