The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, officially launched the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, “Customs Cares,” today.
He encouraged Nigerian youths to remain in the country, stressing, “There’s no need to ‘Japa’ (migrate abroad).”
During the launch event at the Government Secondary School, Wuse, Abuja, Edun highlighted the improvements taking place in Nigeria, noting a decrease in fuel prices and other commodities.
He assured the youth that their future would be bright, with well-paid, quality jobs available in the country.
“You, the youth—representing 42% of the population—are the biggest stakeholders in Nigeria’s future,” Edun said.
“We are working hard to ensure that you have good opportunities here, and there is no need to look abroad. Even those who ‘Japa’ will eventually return to join you under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic vision.”
He praised the Customs’ approach and emphasized that the “Customs Cares” initiative reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to national development.
Edun pointed to tangible improvements, including falling inflation, lower food and fuel prices, and a stable exchange rate, underscoring that these efforts will continue.
The Minister lauded the vision of the Customs leadership for launching a comprehensive CSR program.
In his address, the Comptroller-General of Customs (C-G), Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, explained that the “Customs Cares” initiative is designed to address community empowerment through six key pillars: education, health, food security, environmental sustainability, and social investments, including water boreholes, electricity infrastructure, and skills acquisition programs.
“The initiative is aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), targeting inclusive growth through sustainable community-based interventions,” Adeniyi explained.
“This program will be rolled out across all six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, with a focus on underserved communities, including border areas.”
A new unit under the Office of the C-G has been created to oversee and implement the “Customs Cares” initiatives.
As part of the program’s launch, Adeniyi announced several initiatives for GSS Wuse, including the installation of CCTV cameras, street solar lights, scholarships, renovation of school facilities, and the provision of educational materials such as books and bags.
“This is just the beginning,” Adeniyi added. “We plan to adopt one school in each Local Area Council within the FCT, implementing tailored programs to address the unique needs of each institution.”
The initiative will be funded by allocating 4% of Customs officers’ wages, which is equivalent to 50% of one month’s salary, in addition to individual contributions.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized the importance of consulting with schools and state governments to determine their priority needs.
