Joyce Mmereole Okoli
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a comprehensive first aid training programme aimed at equipping officers and men with essential emergency response skills, in what authorities describe as a strategic investment in workplace safety and operational efficiency.
Declaring the training open at the Command headquarters, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said the initiative aligns with the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s commitment to improving staff welfare and preparedness across all units.
Oshoba stressed that first aid competence is a universal life skill every adult should possess, especially law enforcement personnel who frequently operate in high-risk environments where medical professionals may not be immediately available.
“Sometimes, our officers find themselves in situations where doctors, nurses or paramedics cannot be reached instantly. In such moments, the person standing next to you becomes your emergency nurse or paramedic,” he noted.
He added that timely interventions including CPR, bleeding control, choking relief and stroke recognition often make the difference between survival, full recovery or preventable long-term damage.
The Comptroller cautioned that lack of first aid knowledge could turn manageable emergencies into avoidable tragedies, urging officers to take the training seriously. While some participants may already have prior exposure to first aid procedures, he advised them to treat the session as a critical refresher course.
He encouraged first-timers to fully engage in both the theoretical and practical modules, describing hands-on application as the key to mastering lifesaving skills.
Leading the medical exercise, the Zonal Medical Officer for Zone B and head of the customs medical team, Comptroller A.S. Aku, took participants through practical demonstrations of CPR and choking rescue techniques.
“When there is an emergency, you are the first responder,” Aku told the officers. “What you do in the first few minutes before help arrives is extremely crucial. We are here to practice the basic skills that could save lives.”
He explained that the training would enable officers to understand the four goals of first aid, identify different categories of first aid responses and know when and how to apply them, particularly in situations such as gunshot incidents, severe bleeding, bone and joint injuries, among others.
Aku emphasized that officers often face situations requiring immediate intervention but may panic due to lack of proper training. He expressed confidence that the session would build their competence and confidence in handling emergency conditions both on duty and in their personal lives.
A major highlight of the event was the presentation of the Customs Medical Corps First Aid Manual to Comptroller Oshoba by the Zonal Medical Officer, further underscoring the Service’s commitment to institutionalizing health emergency preparedness.