The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, has reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to national development through targeted community interventions, with critical investments in education, health and environmental sustainability.

He stated this while commissioning the renovated Christ Assembly Nursery and Primary School in Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government Area (LGA) by the Tin Can Island Port Command as well as the distribution of educational materials to 10,000 students.

Adeniyi emphasised the importance of giving back to the host communities that support Customs operations, noting that less than one kilometre across the school road, the NCS generates billions of naira as revenue to the economy. He said the initiative is part of a broader NCS corporate social responsibility framework aimed at delivering long-term impact, adding that the choice of schools for intervention is guided by expert assessments to ensure meaningful impact.

Adeniyi said under the initiative, NCS plans to support education, health care, creative development, and environmental sustainability in communities across the country.

Responding to questions on whether the South-South and South-East zones are included in the plan, Adeniyi affirmed the inclusivity of the programme.
“All parts of the Federation will be part of the plan. We would have launched the Zone B and Zone C interventions earlier, but experienced some delays. However, we have already identified two schools in Cross River and Rivers States for adoption, and we are working towards launching those soon,” he explained.

He described the NCS as a government agency that remains committed not only to its core mandates of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and security, but also to the well-being of the communities it operates in.

On his part, the Customs Area Controller of the Tin Can Island command, Frank Onyeka, said the corporate social responsibility (CSR) project of the command is aimed at improving infrastructure and learning environment for students and teachers.

Onyeka paid special tribute to the teachers who had committed themselves to mentoring and supporting students in challenging circumstances.

He also lauded the students for their determination and perseverance in the face of adversity, saying, “They need to be commended for their perseverance, their zeal for learning, and their determination to overcome these kinds of conditions.