The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) have unveiled programmes at the Seme Border, the Green Border Initiative and the Customs Care Initiative, aimed at promoting environmental sustainability and improving community health.
Launched by COWA National President, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, the Green Border Initiative is a bold step toward restoring degraded land while creating green jobs for women and youth.
Mrs. Adeniyi noted that the initiative is not just about planting trees but about planting opportunities. “We’re turning waste into wealth and equipping our people with skills for a greener future.”
The programme includes tree planting, environmental education, and economic empowerment through sustainable practices.
Running alongside the green campaign, the Customs Care Initiative delivered free medical services to over 1,000 residents, including general health consultations, eye care and vision screening, lab tests and health checks for breast cancer, hepatitis, and hypertension
Comptroller Wale Adenuga, Seme Area Controller, emphasized that the outreach reflects Customs’ broader mission to uplift host communities beyond trade facilitation.
The event also featured financial empowerment for widows and women, solar-powered streetlights to enhance security, commissioning of a remodeled Officers’ Mess, and coconut tree planting as a symbol of resilience and renewal.
Assistant Comptroller-General Mohammed Babandede hailed the initiatives as a model for people-centered border management, urging other Customs commands to replicate the approach nationwide.
With participation from Benin Republic Customs, local leaders, and security agencies, the launch also deepened cross-border cooperation and reaffirmed Customs’ evolving role in sustainability, security, and social impact.