The 2026 Commonwealth Gold Award for Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) conferred on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is a well-deserved recognition of the remarkable impact its ‘Customs Cares’ initiative has made on communities across Nigeria and its contribution to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, a trade expert, Mr. Okey IBEKE, has said.
In a statement issued in Lagos, Ibeke, Principal Consultant, International Trade Advisory Services Ltd., said the award reflects the international community’s acknowledgement of the Customs Service’s transformation from an agency traditionally known for revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations into one that also plays a strategic role in community development, environmental sustainability and social inclusion.
According to him, the introduction of ‘Customs Cares’ by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, marked a significant milestone in public sector governance by institutionalising corporate social responsibility as a core component of Customs administration.
He noted that through the initiative, the Service has successfully aligned its social interventions with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda by taking government programmes directly to communities, particularly those around ports, border areas and other locations where Customs Commands operate.
Ibeke explained that the initiative focuses on six major pillars—education, healthcare, food security, environmental sustainability, social investment and the creative economy—all of which directly contribute to improving the quality of life of Nigerians.
He said that since the launch of the programme, the Customs Headquarters and Area Commands across the federation have implemented numerous projects aimed at addressing pressing community needs.
According to him, the education component has seen the renovation of public schools, rehabilitation of classrooms, construction and refurbishment of assembly halls, donation of desks, textbooks and other learning materials, installation of solar-powered streetlights, provision of water facilities and support for students through scholarships and educational assistance.
He added that the healthcare pillar has equally recorded significant achievements through free medical outreaches organised by the Service across several states, providing medical consultations, eye examinations, blood pressure and diabetes screening, distribution of medicines and health awareness campaigns, particularly for residents of rural and border communities with limited access to quality healthcare.
“The significance of these interventions lies not only in the number of projects executed but in the lives that have been touched. Thousands of pupils now study in better learning environments, while many residents have benefited from free healthcare and other social services provided by the Nigeria Customs Service,” Ibeke said.
The trade expert further noted that environmental sustainability, one of the flagship components of ‘Customs Cares’ was instrumental in the Service’s emergence as the Commonwealth Gold Award winner.
He said the Nigeria Customs Service has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to environmental protection through tree-planting campaigns, environmental sanitation exercises, installation of solar-powered streetlights in schools and public facilities, waste management initiatives and other climate-friendly projects designed to create healthier and safer communities.
He explained that these initiatives align with global sustainability objectives while supporting Nigeria’s commitment to environmental conservation.
Beyond environmental initiatives, Ibeke said the Service has continued to invest in youth development through skills acquisition programmes, entrepreneurship support, community empowerment initiatives and grassroots sporting activities organised by several Customs Commands.
According to him, these programmes have not only empowered young Nigerians with productive skills but have also strengthened relationships between Customs officers and host communities, fostering trust and cooperation.
He particularly commended the Service for extending many of its interventions to border communities, which have historically suffered inadequate government presence despite their strategic importance to national security and economic development.
He said the provision of boreholes, educational support, medical outreach, youth empowerment and other community projects in these areas has helped bridge the gap between government institutions and the people.
“Customs Cares has brought governance closer to the grassroots. Communities that previously knew the Nigeria Customs Service only through enforcement activities are now experiencing its human face through projects that directly improve their daily lives,” he stated.
Ibeke observed that the initiative has also enhanced the public image of the Service by demonstrating that Customs can effectively combine its statutory responsibilities of revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security with meaningful investments in community development.
He described the Commonwealth Gold Award as an endorsement of Comptroller-General Adeniyi’s leadership and his vision of building a modern Customs administration that delivers value beyond its traditional mandate.
“The award is not simply recognition for environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility; it is recognition of a leadership philosophy that places people at the centre of governance. Customs Cares has become a practical expression of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by improving education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, youth development and the welfare of vulnerable communities across Nigeria,” he said.
Ibeke added that the institutionalisation of Customs Cares has ensured that corporate social responsibility is no longer an occasional charitable activity but a structured national programme implemented by Customs Headquarters and Area Commands across the country.
He expressed confidence that as more community-based projects are executed under the initiative, the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to strengthen public trust, deepen stakeholder engagement and reinforce its reputation as one of Africa’s most progressive Customs administrations.
“The Commonwealth Gold Award is therefore more than an international honour. It is a validation of the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to responsible governance, sustainable development and community partnership. It also demonstrates that public institutions can contribute meaningfully to national development when they place citizens at the heart of their programmes and policies,” Ibeke said
