The Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced a comprehensive basic first aid training for its officers and men, a development described by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, as a vital investment in workplace safety and operational readiness.
Welcoming the NCS medical team to the Command, Oshoba said the programme reflects the priority the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, places on staff welfare.
He stressed that first aid knowledge is a universal life skill, particularly essential for officers who frequently operate in high-risk environments.
According to him, simple but timely interventions such as CPR, bleeding control, choking relief, and stroke recognition often determine whether a victim survives, fully recovers, or suffers preventable long-term harm.
He warned that the absence of basic first aid capability during emergencies could result in avoidable tragedy.
Oshoba noted that customs personnel often operate in remote or operational settings where professional medical help is not immediately accessible.
“The person standing next to you could be your emergency nurse or paramedic before a doctor is reached,” he said.
He highlighted that first aid helps reduce injury severity, control bleeding, relieve pain, and stabilise victims at critical moments.
While acknowledging that some officers already have basic knowledge, he urged them to approach the programme as a crucial refresher and encouraged first-time learners to fully engage in both theoretical and practical sessions.
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Declaring the training open, Oshoba expressed confidence that participants would gain vital competencies, describing the initiative as “time well spent” for the Command and the Service as a whole.
Leading the medical team, the Zonal Medical Officer for Zone B, Comptroller A. S. Aku, took the officers through hands-on demonstrations where every participant practised CPR and techniques for managing choking victims.
“The truth is that during an emergency, you are the first responder. What you do in the first few minutes before help arrives is crucial,” Aku said.
“By the end of this exercise, we should understand the four goals of first aid, identify the types and when to administer them, and be familiar with the techniques required. Many times, emergencies happen around us—but panic takes over.”
The training also covered handling bleeding, gunshot injuries, bone and joint injuries, and other emergency scenarios.
A key highlight of the programme was the presentation of the Customs Medical Corps First Aid Manual by Comptroller Aku to the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Oshoba.