By Julius Peter
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has celebrated the 60th birthday and retirement of the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Karu Customs Hospital, Abuja, Comptroller Dr Namang Namdang, in recognition of his decades of dedicated service and contributions to the development of healthcare delivery within the Service.
The ceremony, held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, brought together senior Customs officers, medical personnel, family members, friends, associates and well-wishers who gathered to honour the retiring medical officer and one of the pioneers of the Karu Customs Hospital.
The occasion combined the celebration of Dr Namdang’s 60th birthday with a retirement ceremony and a colourful ceremonial pulling-out parade, marking the formal culmination of his years of service to the Nigeria Customs Service.
The event featured tributes, prayers, goodwill messages, presentation of gifts and birthday felicitations, as colleagues and associates reflected on the retiring CMD’s leadership qualities, professionalism, compassion and commitment to the welfare of officers and patients.
Speakers at the ceremony described Dr Namdang as an accomplished medical practitioner and dedicated Customs officer whose contributions played an important role in the growth and development of the Karu Customs Hospital.
They noted that his career was characterised by discipline, hard work, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to saving lives, adding that his impact extended beyond his official responsibilities to the countless officers, staff and patients who benefited from his medical expertise.
Speaking on behalf of the staff of the hospital, the Head of the Nursing Unit, Comptroller Habiba Abdulmalik, described Dr Namdang as an exceptional leader whose passion for duty and concern for patients earned him the admiration and respect of his colleagues.
According to her, the retiring CMD distinguished himself through selfless service, compassion and an uncommon commitment to his responsibilities.
She expressed appreciation for his sacrifices and contributions to the hospital, while wishing him good health, longevity and fulfilment in retirement.
“We are deeply grateful for your sacrifices and commitment. As you forge ahead into retirement, we wish you long life, good health, and the very best. You will be greatly missed, but your legacy will remain with us,” she said.
Other colleagues and associates also paid glowing tributes to the retiring Chief Medical Director, recalling his remarkable work ethic and determination to provide medical care whenever his services were required.
They particularly described him as a workaholic who was deeply committed to his profession and could often be found in the operating theatre performing surgeries, including during the early hours of the morning.
According to them, his commitment demonstrated the extent to which he placed the wellbeing of patients above personal comfort and convenience.
The celebrants further recalled his memorable moments at the hospital and his role in shaping its medical services over the years.
Adding colour to the ceremony was a drama presentation depicting different aspects of Dr Namdang’s career, including his passion for work, devotion to patients and some of his memorable experiences while serving at the hospital.
The presentation elicited laughter and emotional reactions from guests as colleagues used the occasion to celebrate the personality behind the medical officer and commemorate the experiences shared during his years of service.
Responding to the tributes, Dr Namang Namdang expressed profound appreciation to the Nigeria Customs Service, members of staff, family members, friends and associates for honouring him in such a remarkable manner.
The retiring CMD said he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and goodwill, describing the ceremony as an experience he would cherish for the rest of his life.
He expressed gratitude to everyone who had contributed to his journey and acknowledged the support he received throughout his career.
Dr Namdang also appealed for forgiveness from anyone he might have offended during his years of service, explaining that some of the decisions he took were made in the interest of ensuring that official responsibilities were carried out effectively.
“I have never seen anything like this. I am overwhelmed and will never forget today. If I offended anyone during the course of our work, it was never intentional; it was because the work had to continue. I will miss all of you, and I believe we shall meet again, either here on earth or in the bosom of our Lord,” he said.
His remarks were followed by further goodwill messages from colleagues and friends, who commended him for his years of service and prayed for a peaceful and rewarding retirement.
The celebration also provided an opportunity for officers and staff of the hospital to acknowledge the institutional contributions of the retiring CMD, particularly his role as one of the pioneers associated with the development of the Karu Customs Hospital.
The hospital community described his retirement as both a celebration of an accomplished career and the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
The ceremony climaxed with the ceremonial pulling-out parade, during which officers, colleagues, family members and friends lined up to bid farewell to the retiring Chief Medical Director.
The colourful parade marked the formal end of Dr Namdang’s active service and provided an emotional conclusion to a celebration centred on his 60th birthday, professional achievements and lasting contributions to the Nigeria Customs Service.
As he bows out of active service, colleagues expressed confidence that the values of professionalism, dedication, compassion and service to humanity associated with his career would remain part of the legacy he leaves behind at Karu Customs Hospital and within the Nigeria Customs Service.
