Ahmed Aliyu Mustapha, former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, has died at the age of 76.
His death was confirmed today by the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who described him as a man of service, dignity and duty, and offered prayers for his eternal rest.
Mustapha, elder brother to the Lamido of Adamawa, Muhammadu Mustapha, held the traditional title of Sardauna Adamawa.
He joined the Customs Service as a young cadet and rose steadily through the ranks before his appointment as Comptroller-General in 1999 at the beginning of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.
During his tenure, he strengthened the Service’s anti-smuggling drive and contributed to several national task forces tackling economic sabotage.
His distinguished service was recognised as early as 1988, when he received the Ministerial Award for Outstanding Performance. After more than three decades in the Service, he retired in December 2003 but continued to be regarded as a respected elder statesman, both within the Customs community and in the Adamawa Emirate.
President Bola Tinubu has also mourned his passing, paying tribute to Mustapha’s contributions to national development and to his home state of Adamawa.
Extending his condolences to the Adamawa Emirate Council, the state government and the people of Adamawa, the President prayed for Allah to grant the late Sardauna Adamawa eternal rest in Aljannah Firdaus.
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