Adeniyi Says Service’s CCI To Cover 50,000 Students By End of Year

…As Christ Assembly Nursery/Primary School Ajeromi/Ifelodun Lagos Gets Facelift, Educational Items

BY FUNMI ALUKO

CGC Adeniyi, surrounded by VIP guests, cutting the tape to commission the renovated school facility

Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR  has said that an estimated 50,000 Nigerian students and pupils will benefit from the ongoing ‎‎Customs Care’ Initiative (CCI), disclosing that already, about 10,000 have benefited.

The Nigeria Customs Service boss said the CCI which is woven around President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Sustainable Development Growth (SDG) programme priorities critical support across basic national services segments especially the educational sector, as part of the NCS Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.

Adeniyi who made this known at the unveiling of the renovated Christ Assembly Nursery and Primary School located within Ajeromi/Ifelodun Local Government, Lagos, on Thursday, 17 July 2025, ‎‎ explained that the programme targets providing schools with some forms of essential facelift  and the provisions of school bags, note books, school shoes, rain jackets, umbrellas among other essential learning materials.

“‎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.

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.

“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.

“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.”

“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”, he said.

Addressing the areas of support so far, the customs boss said: ‎‎”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.”

Medical team attending to some of the guests at the event

The CGC Commended the Area Controller of Tin Can Island Command, Controller Frank Onyeka and his management team including stakeholders who provided the materials in support of the initiative.

Customs Area Controller of TinCan Island Port Command, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, walking to the podium to give his remarks

In his remarks, Onyeka expressed gratitude for the huge turnout of guests, including community leaders, local government officials, representatives of sister agencies and the leadership of the school management board for their patience and cooperation 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. 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”.

This is even as the applauded stakeholders who supported the initiative and the CGC for driving the initiative through leadership insight and unrelenting encouragement for the subordinate cadre and his management to key into 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 the future,” he said.

The popular Lagos Eyo dancers entertaining guest during the event.

Speaking earlier, the Olu Iwa of Apapa Kingdom, HRM, Oba Moroof Oyekunle Oluwa, commended Customs for the initiative and called on other government agencies operating in the area, particularly the Nigerian Port’s Authority (NPA) to also contribute to the growth of the community.

In the same vein, the Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Tolani Ali-Balogun, appreciated the Customs for the project, adding that it is a leverage to what the state government is doing in the educational sector.

While the outgoing Chairman, Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA, Fatai Ayoola thanked the Customs for brining succour to the community and ameliorating the sufferings of the people, the Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area Educational Secretary, Barrister Remi-Williams Abiola described the project as unique and salutary.

Speaking, the school Headmistress, Mrs Esther Ogunfuyi, thanked the CGC, the NCS and the Tin Can Island Command for their combined efforts and concern to include the educational sector in the NCS CCI; noting that support and partnership has made a great impact on the school, its pupils, teachers, parents and wards.

“We are here to acknowledge and celebrate something truly special, the renovation and adoption of our school by the Nigeria Customs Service, Tin Can Island Port Command, Apapa, Lagos.

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.

“This transformation we see around us is more than just new walls, fresh paint or improved facilities. It is a reflection of your belief in the potentials of our pupil, your commitment to quality education and your desire to make a lasting difference.

“By renovating our school, you have given us a renewed sense of pride and hope, and by adopting us, you have gone even further, you are committed to walking this journey with us offering continued support and partnership that will shape the future of our learners”, adding:

“We do not take this for granted, your generosity has created a safer more inspiring and more dignified environment for teaching and learning”.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of the Customs Medical Unit on ground at the event, DC VK Bishen said a total of 153 individuals were screened during the programme, out of which 30 were found to be hypertensive and 1 diabetic.

Also at the event is DCG Timin Bomodi, ACG Charles Obih, Comptroller CCI, Customs Spokesman, AC Abdullahi Maiwada, among others.