Joyce Mmereole Okoli
In a landmark community outreach, the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) and the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have jointly launched two transformative initiatives the Green Border Initiative and the Customs Care Initiative aimed at empowering border communities through environmental restoration, health support, and economic upliftment.
The high-impact programmes, unveiled at the Seme Border by COWA National President, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, and Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (Zone A), Mohammed Babandede, mark a new phase in the Service’s commitment to *people-centered border management* that blends security with sustainability.
Mrs. Adeniyi said the Green Border Initiative goes beyond tree planting it is a vision to turn degraded land into green wealth while equipping women and youth with skills to thrive in a growing eco-economy.
“This initiative is not just about planting trees; it’s about planting opportunities. We’re turning waste into wealth and empowering our people to thrive in a greener, healthier economy,” she said.
Simultaneously, the Customs Care Initiative offered free medical services to more than 1,000 residents, including laboratory tests, eye care, and screenings for breast cancer, hepatitis, and hypertension bringing healthcare closer to border communities.
Seme Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, described the outreach as a reflection of Customs’ expanding role in nation-building beyond trade facilitation.
“Every life improved today strengthens the bond between Customs and our host communities,” he said.
Applauding the effort, ACG Babandede hailed the twin programmes as symbols of a *new era in Customs operations that prioritizes both border security and human security, urging other commands to replicate the initiative nationwide.
The event also featured coconut tree planting, empowerment grants for women and widows, and the commissioning of solar-powered streetlights and a remodeled Officers’ Mess showcasing Customs’ drive to promote environmental renewal and sustainable living.
With dignitaries from Benin Republic Customs, local leaders, and security agencies in attendance, the initiative further strengthened cross-border collaboration while reaffirming Customs’ evolving role as a driver of community development and green growth.