‎‎Customs Cares CSR Initiative: NCS Targets 50,000 Nigerian Students in 2025, as 10,000 Benefit

.Unveils Renovated School at Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government‎ Through TCIPC

ZAINAB JUNAID ‎‎

As part of its continued efforts to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Sustainable Development Growth (SDG) priorities, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has targeted 50,000 Nigerian Students through ‘Customs Care’ initiative, its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, with 10,000 already benefitting.‎‎

Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR made this known at the unveiling of the renovated Christ Assembly Nursery and Primary School, Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government, Lagos, on Thursday, 17 July 2025.‎‎

The CGC appreciating Customs Area Controller Frank for a well delivered project

According to him, in terms of numbers, the Service’s target in 2025 under CSR programme is to directly reach out to 50,000 students through provisions of school bags, notes, school shoes, rain jackets, umbrellas and all of that. “‎So far we have done about 10,000, out of which 3,000 are from Lagos.

‎”Today, we are going to reach out to 2,000 school pupils and we have all of these learning aids, which we are going to give to them in terms of reaching out to Nigerians,” he stated.‎‎

The CGC, who doubles as the new World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council Chair, informed that using other pillars of creative economy, health delivery, the Service target is to reach out to 10 million Nigerians through its various intervention programmes.

‎‎He said, “It is our belief that what we are doing is in line with the mandate of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) obligation. With our corporate social responsibility obligation, let me make it very very clear that we are not in any form of competition with any government agency so we are not going to see ourselves as the first or the only agency that will do it.

Pupils of Christ Assembly Nursery and Primary School appreciating and entertaining the Nigeria Customs Service and all guests with cultural dance ‘Eyo’, creativity and scintillating speeches.

“Rather, what we are doing is to recognise the fact that all our communities where we serve have remained a strong pillar of support for us and in reciprocating this support, we are going to be discharging these obligations under our CSR, we will be discussing with other agencies of government, other civil society organisations, and other international agencies to see the possibility of partnering with them so that we can leverage on better access to resources”.

‎‎The CGC also noted that apart from education programme under this initiative, the Service has extended its CSR programe to five other pillars to support the President’s SDG priorities.

‎‎”We are having interventions in health care, we are supporting the creative industries, we are going to be providing good water access to less privileged Nigerians, and we are going to support information technology, ICT and sport development,” he stated.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, addressing the guests at the official commissioning of the renovated Christ Assembly Nursery and Primary school, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government, Lagos.

Speaking on the newly renovated structure and back-to school materials, which ignited renewed hope to the pupils and management of Christ Assembly Nursery and Primary school, other members of the Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government, the Customs Chief emphasised that the initiative aims to give back to the community for fully supporting the Service in the ‎discharge of their duties.‎

“We are happy that our intervention has provided a better learning environment for all our students but more importantly we are happy that our intervention has really ignited a renewed hope that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our children can learn under a good environment and they can aspire to be the very best that they can in their career.

“What we are doing is to recognise the fact that all our communities where we serve have remained a strong pillar of support for us and in reciprocating this support we are going to be discharging the obligations on our Corporate Social Responsibility programme, we will be discussing with other agencies of government, other civil society organisations and other international agencies to see the possibility of partnering with them, so that we can leverage on better access to resources,” he stated.

The CGC further Commended Customs Area Controller Frank Onyeka and his team for the intervention programme. He also lauded the TinCan Island stakeholders for their support in bringing the initiative to fruition.

In their goodwill messages, the community leaders at the event appreciated the gesture by the Nigeria Customs Service and also urged the school management to properly maintained all the facilities provided and also assured the Service of their continued support.

Customs Area Controller of TinCan Island Port Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka

In his closing remarks, the Customs Area Controller of TinCan Island Port Command, TCIPC, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, the Chief host of the event and also the engine behind the renewed structure, appreciated the large turnout of guests, particularly the leadership of the school management board for their cooperation and patience during the renovation process.

“Your tireless efforts in keeping the institution running under such difficult circumstances did not go unnoticed. This intervention is a reinforcement of your vision and labour,” he said. “To the dedicated teachers and staff, you are heroes in every sense of the word. In spite of those conditions, you continued to teach, to mentor and to inspire. You deserve our deepest gratitude. And to the pupils, I say this: The new classrooms, books, computers, and learning spaces you see today are not just gifts, they are tools to help you dream big, learn with passion, and build a brighter future for yourselves, your families, and our nation. To our Customs officers and men who worked tirelessly on this project, thank you for demonstrating that we are indeed public servants committed to national transformation”.

The Area Controller also commended the Comptroller General of Customs, for adding life to the initiative.

“Let me also thank some of our esteemed partners for their immersed contributions towards this lofty project. Worthy of mention are the Ndigbo Amaka Progressive Markets Association, Bashorun Alao Talabi and others too numerous to mention. I reiterated my heartfelt thank you to the Comptroller General of Customs for giving life to the Customs Cares initiative. Through efforts like this, we are not only protecting borders, we are protecting futures,” he said.

Comptroller Frank stressed that the initiative is not just a renovation but a transformation. “A transformation that signifies our collective commitment to giving every Nigerian child a fair chance regardless of their background,” he stated stressing that the Service core function extends beyond revenue generation and securing borders, to uplifting the communities where the Service operate, especially in areas including education and health care, which remains the bedrock of sustainable national progress.

Deputy Comptroller VK Bishen, medical unit, Apapa Port Command; MA Farouk, OC Medical TinCan Island Port Command and other medical team members at the event.

In a related development, Deputy Comptroller VK Bishen from the medical unit of the Service, revealed that a total of 153 individuals were screened during the programme, out of which 30 were found to be hypertensive and 1 diabetic.

Medical team attending to some of the guests at the event.