The Nigeria Customs Service has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable community development, as its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility programme, Customs Cares, records significant impact within one year of implementation.
This was highlighted during the commissioning of a fully renovated school hall under the Service’s Adopt-a-School initiative in Abuja, marking the programme’s first anniversary.
The event also featured the donation of basketball jerseys and balls to the school team, and the planting of trees within the school premises as part of efforts to promote environmental sustainability and improve the learning environment.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs described the intervention as a clear demonstration of the Service’s transition from policy formulation to tangible outcomes.
According to him, the initiative has delivered targeted interventions across key sectors, particularly education, with a focus on long-term sustainability.
“The programme demonstrates the Service’s resolve to contribute to national development beyond its core responsibilities,” he said.
He noted that, beyond infrastructure, the programme is designed to improve learning conditions, promote creativity, and instill life skills among students.
“The Service has set a target of reaching 50,000 pupils nationwide,” he added, noting that “about 15,000 students have already benefited within the first year of the programme.”
The Comptroller-General also emphasised the importance of accountability, urging the school to translate the improved learning environment into better academic performance.
He revealed plans to introduce measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including incremental improvements in core subjects such as English, Mathematics, and the Sciences.
“We want to see results. Even if it is a five percent improvement, it is progress. This intervention must reflect in academic outcomes,” he stated.
The Customs boss further proposed a sustainability model that would allow the facility to generate revenue through strategic partnerships, noting that maintenance remains a major challenge in public schools.
He therefore called for collaboration with relevant education authorities to enable schools to maximise such assets without violating existing financial regulations.
Earlier, the school principal, Mrs. Chizoba Ogwu, described the project as transformative, noting that the renovated and solar-powered hall has significantly improved the academic and social environment of the school.
She said “The intervention, which includes the provision of educational materials, has enhanced teaching and learning while also creating a hub for cultural and intellectual activities”.
Ogwu added that the initiative reflects a broader commitment to human capital development and commended the Customs leadership for its foresight and dedication.
She, however, appealed for additional support in the form of furniture and fittings to fully optimise the facility.
The event also featured student performances showcasing creativity and talent, as well as a basketball match between the school and the NCS basketball team, with the school emerging victorious, further reinforcing the impact of the initiative beyond academics.
The Customs Cares programme, launched in March 2025, is part of the Nigeria Customs Service’s broader strategy to support national development through structured and sustainable social investments.