CSR initiative anchored on six pillars aims to complement NCS’s traditional roles with community-focused impact; stakeholders call for action beyond promises.
In a move widely seen as a shift towards a more people-centered approach, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Bashir Adeniyi, has launched a groundbreaking initiative tagged ‘Customs Cares’, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme designed to chart a new course for the agency while complementing its traditional roles of revenue collection, trade facilitation, and anti-smuggling operations.
Unveiled in Abuja, the initiative is built on six strategic pillars: Education, Healthcare, Social Investment, Environmental Sustainability, Food Security, and the Creative Economy. According to Adeniyi, the new direction reflects a deliberate attempt by the Service to embed national development and community upliftment into its operational DNA.
“While we remain committed to our core statutory duties, we also recognise the need to invest in the people and communities that form the foundation of our nation. ‘Customs Cares’ represents our resolve to serve beyond the borders, by bringing development closer to the grassroots,” the CGC said.
The programme aims to deliver measurable interventions including educational scholarships, access to primary healthcare, youth empowerment, environmental clean-up campaigns, food distribution, and support for creative talents.
Stakeholders at the launch event welcomed the bold shift, describing it as a long-overdue evolution of the Customs Service. However, many were quick to add that implementation must go beyond rhetoric.
“This is a commendable step in the right direction,” said one community leader in attendance. “But we urge the CGC and his team to ensure the initiative produces real, visible results in communities. Let Customs be known not just for checkpoints and tariffs, but for building schools, hospitals, and livelihoods.”
Journalists, Civil society groups, and policy analysts echoed similar sentiments, insisting that the success of ‘Customs Cares’ would depend on transparency, accountability, and a clear framework for monitoring impact.
Since assuming office, CGC Adeniyi has pushed for a more accountable, responsible, and modern Nigeria Customs Service. With the unveiling of this CSR programme, he is sending a clear signal that the Nigeria Customs Service is embracing a more holistic role in national development.
As the initiative enters its rollout phase, Nigerians will be watching to see whether the Customs Service can indeed transform goodwill into action, ushering in a new era where government agencies deliver both policy and people-driven progress.
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