Customs comptroller lays foundation for N500m 30-bed hospital in Bauchi

• Published On: 08 July 2024 at 17:38

Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, has laid the groundwork for the construction of a N500 million ultramodern hospital with 30 beds at Zone D Headquarters in Bauchi.

The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative is sponsoring the cutting-edge medical facility at the Federal Operations Unit, Zone 'D' Headquarters in Bauchi, as part of its Security Sector Support Grant program.

Dr. Ubon Udoh, MD/CEO of ASR Africa, presented letters of award to Nigeria's security authorities in December 2022, before the groundbreaking on Monday.

The NCS Comptroller General commended the chairman of ASR Africa for the contribution provided to the agency, stating that the gesture is noteworthy because it is the first time any organisation has made such a large donation to the Nigeria Customs Service.

He stated, "We are pleased to be the recipient of this initiative, which we hope will improve the capacity and welfare of our people as well as the communities in whom we serve.

"The Nigeria Customs Service's mandate is extremely clear. We are scattered across the country to carry out our major mandates: earning revenue for the country, controlling and managing smuggling, and facilitating trade. These are onerous obligations that Nigeria Customs Service officers must do out.

"To effectively carry out these responsibilities, we must consider our officers' well-being, the health of their families, and the wealth and health of members of the community in which we work.


"This is why the Nigeria Customs Service has implemented a thorough welfare program to meet the health and needs of our officers. Under the present budget, the Nigeria Customs Service must establish various medical facilities in all of our Zonal Headquarters.

"So, we have a project that is ongoing, Zone A in Lagos, we have one in Kaduna, we have one in Port Harcourt and we are happy that we have found a reputable partner that has chosen to work with us to deliver a world-class 30-bed hospital we have in Zone D, Bauchi."

In his statement during the groundbreaking, the MD of ASR Africa, Udoh, emphasized the Chairman of ASR Africa and the BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu,'s commitment to honoring the assurances made to Nigerian security agencies.

He further noted that ASR Africa has met with all recipients of the security grant and is on pace to complete all projects chosen by the military forces and security services. He commended the leadership of the Nigerian Customs Service for working with ASR Africa on the project.

"This endeavor also exemplifies the kind of leadership that Customs is lucky to have. This project could have been anything, but the leadership chose to establish a hospital that prioritizes the health of the Nigeria Customs Service's men, women, officers, and families," Udoh stated.

Recall that Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of ASR Africa, pledged a N10 billion grant to the Nigerian Armed Forces and security services during his December 2022 visit to the country's immediate previous president.

This award, as part of the Security Sector Support grant, is intended to assist the country's security agencies and military forces in carrying out its duty to the Nigerian people in an effective and efficient manner.


Other recipients include the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Department of Secret Services, Nigeria Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and Nigeria Correctional Service.