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Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) have launched a transformative double-impact initiative at the Seme Border; unveiling the Green Border Initiative and Customs Care Initiative to promote environmental sustainability, healthcare, and women empowerment in border communities.
The twin programmes, jointly inaugurated by COWA National President, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, and Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (Zone A), Mohammed Babandede, reflect the Service’s evolving commitment to people-centered border management that integrates welfare, health, and green development.
Mrs. Adeniyi described the Green Border Initiative as both an environmental restoration and economic empowerment project aimed at reviving degraded ecosystems and creating new livelihood opportunities for women and youth.
“This initiative is not just about planting trees; it’s about planting opportunities. We’re turning waste into wealth and giving our people the skills to thrive in a greener economy,” she said.
The Customs Care Initiative, launched simultaneously, offers free medical consultations, lab tests, eye care, and health screenings for over 1,000 beneficiaries, including checks for breast cancer, hepatitis, and hypertension.
Seme Area Controller, Comptroller Wale Adenuga, said the outreach reflects Customs’ drive to impact lives beyond trade facilitation.
“Every life improved today strengthens the bond between Customs and our host communities,” he stated.
ACG Babandede commended the synergy between COWA and the Command, describing the initiatives as hallmarks of a “new era” in Customs; one that values both border and human security. He encouraged other formations to replicate the model nationwide.
The event also featured coconut tree planting, empowerment of widows and women with financial support and tools for self-reliance, and commissioning of solar-powered streetlights and a remodeled Officers’ Mess.
With attendance from Benin Republic Customs officials, traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and representatives of security agencies, the launch further deepened cross-border cooperation and reinforced the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to sustainability and community well-being.
