The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified efforts to enhance the health and safety capacity of its personnel through a comprehensive First Aid training conducted by the Service’s Medical Unit at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC).
According to a press release signed by the Public Relations Officer of TRADOC, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Afolabi Ajayi, the training was held at the Ahmed Makarfi Hall, aiming to equip officers and men with essential life-saving skills and emergency response knowledge.
The session, which featured both theoretical and practical components, was anchored by a team from the NCS Medical Unit. Participants were exposed to a range of topics, including Introduction to First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), the Recovery Position, and Treatment of Common Injuries such as bleeding, fractures, burns, and fainting.
In attendance were the Commander, NCS TRADOC, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Suleiman Chiroma; the Commandant, Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Assistant Comptroller-General Oluyomi Adebakin; the Deputy Commandant of the College; members of the directing and administrative staff; as well as students of Senior Course 13 and Junior Course 23.
Declaring the training open, the Commander, DCG Suleiman Chiroma, commended the initiative of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, for prioritising the health and welfare of officers through proactive capacity-building programmes. He described the training as essential towards achieving one of management’s core objectives, ensuring the well-being, preparedness, and professionalism of Customs personnel.
“An officer who understands First Aid is better equipped to save a colleague, a civilian, or even himself in an emergency situation,” DCG Chiroma stated. “This training goes beyond theory; it is about empowering our officers with practical life-saving skills that reflect the Service’s commitment to safety and humanity.”
Leading the facilitation team, Comptroller Abdulsalam Umar of the NCS Medical Unit highlighted the significance of the exercise, noting that it had been approved by the Comptroller-General to be implemented nationwide across all Customs formations.
“The nature of our duties often exposes officers to situations where quick medical response is crucial,” Umar explained. “With First Aid knowledge, an officer can make the difference between life and death before professional medical assistance arrives.”
In her closing remarks, the Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, ACG Oluyomi Adebakin, lauded the programme as “timely, practical, and highly relevant to officers’ operational realities.”
“Beyond our core functions of revenue generation and anti-smuggling, the welfare and safety of personnel remain a key priority,” she said. “This training will enhance officers’ confidence and readiness in handling emergencies within and outside their duty posts.” she concluded.
