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Customs targets 10m in CSR drive
Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has pledged to create inclusive development opportunities in underserved communities.
He made the promise during the inauguration of the renovated Christ Assembly Nursery and Primary School in Araromi, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos, as part of its national Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
The project was executed by NCS, Tin Can Island Port Command and included the provision of modern learning facilities, distribution of educational materials and free medical service for pupils and members of the community.
The CG said the project aligned with his long-term vision, adding that the intervention was designed not only to improve learning environments but also to give underprivileged children a chance to dream and aspire.
The project, which benefits 2,000 pupils, is a key element of Customs’ wider 2025 plan to reach 10 million Nigerians across education, health, ICT, water access, and youth empowerment.
“Our target for 2025 is to reach 50,000 students with learning materials and touch the lives of 10 million Nigerians across our six CSR pillars, which include education, health, water access, ICT, creative industry, and sports development. So far, we’ve reached about 10,000 students—3,000 of whom are in Lagos—and today, 2,000 pupils will benefit directly from this school project,” Adeniyi said.
He announced that the NCS will also intervene in rehabilitating the nearby Maracana Stadium, a popular grassroots sports hub in Ajegunle, as part of its broader support for youth and talent development.
“The Maracana Stadium will be our next stop. We will partner with the local government to improve sports infrastructure, and when we’re done, all Customs controllers in Zone A will challenge the Ajeromi executives to a football match—and I can assure you, we will win,” Adeniyi declared. “
The CGC emphasised that the Customs’ CSR efforts were in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We’re not in competition with any other agency. This is our way of giving back to the communities that host and support us,” he said, adding that the Service had adopted the school and would return in December for a Christmas celebration with the pupils.
The CGC also used the opportunity to reflect on the value of education, narrating how he defended his PhD thesis earlier that morning, stating, “Education changed my life. I started from Modakeke High School and ended up as Comptroller-General of Customs.”
He lauded the Tin Can Island Port Command for initiating the project and praised the support of stakeholders.
He said Tin Can Port is the country’s second busiest port, generating billions of naira just a kilometer from the school, noting: “It’s only fitting that we reciprocate by investing in the community,” he said.
Adeniyi further revealed that the Service had begun plans for a Customs University of Trade, Commerce, and Technology in Badagry, Lagos, for which Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had already allocated 50 hectares of land.
“This project has been approved in the 2025 budget, and we’re excited to begin construction this year,” he stated.
The commissioning ceremony drew commendations from state officials, community leaders, and lawmakers, all of whom hailed Customs for setting a new benchmark for government agencies.
Head of the Customs CSR Unit, Comptroller M.P. Ibrahim, said the initiative, branded Customs Cares, was a strategic move to humanize the Service’s operations, stating: “Under the leadership of CGC Adeniyi, our CSR is now about bridging the gap between service and society. This is what responsible public service looks like.”
Zonal Coordinator for Zone A, Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) Charles Obih, described the renovation as the start of “a transformative journey” in Customs-community relations, noting: “This is not a one-off. Our adoption of this school means we’re in it for the long term.”
For the Area Controller of Tin Can Island Port, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, the project has been a labour of love.
“The excitement from the pupils and their teachers was enough to spur us on. It was worth every effort,” he said, expressing gratitude to Customs leadership and project partners.
Also speaking at the event, Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, thanked the Service for complementing the state’s education development plan. “With this new outlook—equipped classrooms, a playground, and teaching resources, students now have a conducive environment to learn and grow,” he said.
Member of the House of Representatives representing Ajeromi Ifelodun, Adeboye Paul, said the project reflects a growing sense of responsibility among public institutions. According
According to him, “This is a call to action for other agencies to follow suit. Customs has shown what is possible.”
Hon. Adeboye Paul, who represents Ajeromi Ifelodun in the House of Representatives, described the intervention as a challenge to other agencies. “Customs has set a new benchmark for public institutions. Others must follow,” he said.