MISSED THIS? Nigeria Customs Service Establishes CSR Unit

This is the very kind of news CSR Reporters has been advocating, the kind that reaffirms our belief that corporate social responsibility is not just the burden of profit-driven private companies, but a moral and strategic obligation of every institution with reach, influence, and presence in people’s lives.

The establishment of a Corporate Social Responsibility Unit within the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is not only commendable, it is, in every sense of the word, forward-thinking institutional reform that deserves to be celebrated and replicated.

For far too long, government agencies in Nigeria have functioned behind the veil of core mandates, often drawing a hard line between service delivery and social responsibility. But the Customs Service is now taking a different path, one that acknowledges that even institutions primarily known for revenue generation and security enforcement must also be seen as partners in human and community development.

This is the sermon CSR Reporters has consistently preached for years. That CSR is not a marketing tool. It is not a publicity stunt. It is not a post-script. It is policy. It is duty. It is nation-building. And to see this understanding now taking root within the Nigeria Customs Service is, frankly, more than laudable, it is transformative.

Similarly, with the introduction of the “Customs Cares” initiative, we are witnessing a genuine institutional shift. We are seeing a service that is saying, in action and not just in words, that the border communities where they operate are not just lines on a map or logistics outposts, they are home to real people, with real needs, facing real development challenges. From school renovations to mobile clinics, agricultural support, skills training, and youth empowerment, the NCS is setting a benchmark that many others within the public service can learn from.

What is especially refreshing about this approach is the structure. This isn’t just a one-off intervention or a seasonal outreach programme. It is a systemic setup, a dedicated unit, a long-term framework. The integration of CSR into the core of NCS operations means this is not an afterthought. It is policy-backed, leadership-driven, and designed to outlast any one administration. That is what sustainability looks like. That is how impact is institutionalized.

It also sends a strong signal that CSR doesn’t belong only to banks and brewers, telcos and oil majors. Every government ministry, department, and agency should now look in the mirror. If Customs can innovate at this level, what excuse does any other public-facing institution really have? If an agency best known for clearing cargo and patrolling borders can now extend its mandate to care for schools, clinics, farms, and livelihoods, then it’s time for others to match this energy.

CSR Reporters therefore uses this moment to call on other key government parastatals, from immigration to road safety, from inland revenue to environmental agencies, to develop internal CSR units that allow them to give back meaningfully to the communities they touch every day. It is no longer acceptable to operate in communities for decades without investing in their growth. It is no longer acceptable to see citizens only as service users or tax payers, and not as stakeholders deserving of care and upliftment.

Under the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, the Customs Service has not only raised the bar, but has shown that CSR is also a tool for rebuilding public trust in institutions. It is a bridge for community engagement, a soft-power strategy that fosters peace, security, and legitimacy. And in aligning this program with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Presidential Priority Areas, NCS is proving that even enforcement-driven institutions can be agents of compassion, equity, and inclusive growth.

We urge all stakeholders, donors, NGOs, development partners and private sector players to throw their weight behind “Customs Cares.” Let this be a partnership in real terms. Let this be a springboard for more holistic collaborations that bring lasting change to forgotten corners of the country. And most importantly, let this serve as a call to action for every other institution, public or private to understand that in a country like Nigeria, where inequality runs deep and development gaps are wide, CSR is no longer optional. It is critical infrastructure.

The Nigeria Customs Service has given us a case study. Now is the time for others to write theirs.