Lagos Area Command Customs Chief Sarah Wadinda Bags Civil Society Honour as Lagos Unveils Key Community Projects.
By Raymond Enoch.
In a landmark moment for Nigeria’s public service, Comptroller Sarah Wadinda, the Customs Area Comptroller of the Lagos Industrial Area Command, has been honoured with the prestigious Plaque of Honour for Distinguished Service, Trade Facilitation and Customs Leadership Excellence by the National Civil Society Coalition on Transparency and Public Accountability.
The award, conferred under the leadership of the Centre for Leadership and Creative Entrepreneurs in Africa Ltd/GTE (CELCE-Africa), was presented during a high-profile ceremony that also marked the commissioning of two major infrastructure projects — a modern Water Treatment Plant and a fully equipped Electronic Library — at Festac Senior Grammar School in Lagos.
These projects were carried out under the Customs’ Care Program, the flagship Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), driven by the vision of Comptroller General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR. The program is designed to promote community development through investments in education and public health.
Ambassador Kingsley Enwelim Nwanze, Director General and CEO of CELCE-Africa and lead convener of the National Civil Society Coalition, lauded Comptroller Wadinda’s transformative leadership and unwavering dedication to institutional integrity.
“Comptroller Sarah Wadinda has set a new benchmark for customs leadership in Nigeria. Her professionalism, integrity, and people-centred approach to trade facilitation stand as an enduring example of how public service can drive growth, accountability, and competitiveness,” Nwanze stated.
Under Comptroller Wadinda’s stewardship, the Lagos Industrial Area Command has evolved into a model of operational efficiency, transparency, and revenue generation. Her tenure has been marked by strengthened compliance frameworks and streamlined trade facilitation processes that have significantly boosted the Command’s contributions to the national economy.
The Civil Society Plaque of Honour is one of the highest distinctions awarded by CELCE-Africa and its coalition of partners. It celebrates public servants who embody exceptional leadership, vision, and impact in driving national development goals. Wadinda now joins a distinguished group of recipients recognised for advancing the principles of transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance.
The dual milestone of honouring an exceptional public officer and commissioning vital community projects reinforces the growing synergy between effective leadership and grassroots development. It also reflects a rising demand for governance models anchored in service, integrity, and measurable public impact.
Comptroller Wadinda’s recognition sends a powerful message: transformational leadership is not only possible within Nigeria’s public institutions — it is already happening.
