Customs Renovates Lagos School, Empowers 2,000 Pupils—But Can ‘Customs Cares’ Be Sustained?

In a dusty corner of Araromi, in Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Lagos State, the Christ Assembly Nursery and Primary School had stood quietly since 1960—weathered by time, forgotten by many. Its classrooms told stories of peeling walls and leaky roofs, where eager children once learned under uncomfortable conditions. But on Thursday, that narrative changed.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative tagged “Customs Cares,” unveiled a fully renovated, state-of-the-art facility—complete with new educational resources—for the school and its 2,000 pupils. The intervention, championed by the Tin Can Island Port Command in partnership with Customs Headquarters in Abuja, was not just a face-lift. It was, for many in the community, a restoration of hope.

A New Mandate Beyond Revenue

Traditionally seen as a border control and revenue-generating agency, the NCS is charting new territory—one where uniforms bring not just enforcement, but empathy. Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, while commissioning the project, explained the pivot: “We are not in competition with other agencies. But we believe that the communities where we operate deserve more from us. Customs is here not only to collect revenue but also to touch lives.”

The initiative is part of a larger plan by the Service to impact 50,000 schoolchildren across the country by 2025. So far, 12,000 children have benefitted, 5,000 in Lagos alone, with 2,000 receiving educational materials during the ceremony. But behind the numbers lie the human stories: children thrilled to sit on new chairs, teachers grateful for functional classrooms, and parents who see education finally taking centre stage in their community.

The Faces Behind the Statistics

Esther Ogunfuyi, headmistress of the school, fought back tears as she addressed the crowd. “What Customs has done for us cannot be quantified,” she said. “Our children now have a better shot at learning. This school has not looked this good in decades.”Community leaders also echoed the sentiment. HRM Oba Moroof Oyekunle Oluwa, the Olu Iwa of Apapa Kingdom, called the intervention a landmark moment. “We have been clamouring for support for years. Today, Customs has shown us that government can still remember the people,” he said, urging other agencies like the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to replicate the gesture.

For parents like Mrs. Abike Salami, whose three children attend the school, the upgrade brings a sense of dignity. “Before now, we used to beg teachers to let the children learn under trees during the heat. Now, they come home excited about school again,” she said.

Sustainability in Question

While the celebration was heartfelt, some stakeholders quietly questioned the long-term vision of Customs Cares. How sustainable is this self-imposed mandate? Can a revenue-generating agency shoulder educational and social interventions consistently?

Comptroller Adeniyi insists the commitment is real. “We’re building systems that will last. Beyond education, we will invest in healthcare, ICT, sports, and support for the less privileged. These aren’t one-off gestures, they are part of a deliberate agenda to institutionalize CSR within Customs,” he assured.

Still, education experts warn that sustainability will require more than good intentions. Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Tolani Ali-Balogun, who applauded the initiative, urged stronger collaboration with education authorities. “What Customs has done here aligns with our goals. But we must build mechanisms for maintenance. That’s where the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the local community come in,” he said.

A Community Reborn, A Model for Others

Outgoing Ajeromi-Ifelodun LGA Chairman, Fatai Ayoola, called the project “the first of its kind” in the area. “Customs has brought back the spirit of partnership and rekindled our community’s faith in government.”

For the officers of Tin Can Port Command, led by Comptroller Frank Onyeka, the project is a source of pride. “We were not just executing a directive. We were rebuilding futures,” he said, thanking stakeholders and the Customs leadership for their support.

As the sun set on the commissioning day, the laughter of schoolchildren echoed through newly painted corridors, a sound that hadn’t been heard in years. Customs Cares may still be young, and questions about its longevity remain, but in this part of Lagos, the seeds of hope have clearly been planted.

Whether this CSR model will be scaled and sustained across Nigeria remains to be seen. But for now, in Araromi, the Nigeria Customs Service has redefined what it means to serve.

@2025 The Ameh News: All Rights Reserved