Nigeria has lost a towering figure in public service as former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ahmed Aliyu Mustapha, has passed away.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State confirmed the death of the former Customs boss on Thursday in a statement shared through his official social media handles. Expressing grief, Fintiri described Mustapha as “a man of service, dignity and duty whose legacy will live on,” adding prayers for the Lamido of Adamawa, the Mustapha royal family, and all who mourn his passing.
Mustapha, who served as Comptroller-General of Customs from 1999 to 2003, was the elder brother of the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha. He also held the highly revered traditional title of Sardauna Adamawa, making him a prominent figure both in national service and traditional leadership.
Read also:
- Customs engages Shippers’ Council on B’odogwu implementation
- Customs, FIRS, National Single Window Secretariat partner on boosting trade
- Customs seize over 69,000 litres of smuggled petrol, diesel in Adamawa, Taraba
His career in the Nigeria Customs Service began as a young cadet. Over the years, he rose through the ranks, eventually leading the Service during the early years of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. His tenure was marked by aggressive anti-smuggling campaigns and participation in national task forces against economic sabotage. In recognition of his exceptional service, he received the Ministerial Award for Outstanding Performance in 1988.
After more than thirty years in uniform, Mustapha retired in December 2003 but remained influential in both the Customs community and the Adamawa Emirate, where his wisdom and guidance were frequently sought until his death.
