By George Ozalla
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, commissioned the Abdul Samad Rabiu / Nigeria Customs Service Hospital in Bauchi, a 60-bed facility constructed and donated by Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of ASR Africa and Founder/Executive Chairman of BUA Group.
The hospital, delivered through the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative, will provide healthcare services to Customs officers, their families, and host communities across Zone ‘D’ and neighbouring states. According to a press statement signed by the CGC’s spokesman, Adeniyi described the facility as a strategic welfare investment that reflects the Service’s commitment to personnel wellbeing.
“This commissioning is a clear statement that the NCS prioritises the health and welfare of its officers. A modern Service requires not only technology and operational reforms, but also strong social infrastructure that supports those who serve,” he said.
The Managing Director of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh, said the partnership demonstrates the impact of private sector commitment aligned with institutional reforms. According to a press statement signed by him, the initiative reflects ASR Africa’s focus on sustainable, impact-driven philanthropy.
Delivering a message on behalf of the Executive Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, the Secretary to the State Government, Aminu Hammayo, said the hospital would complement existing public institutions and improve access to specialised healthcare services. According to a press statement signed by Hammayo, the facility strengthens the state’s healthcare ecosystem.
The hospital’s commissioning marks the culmination of a phased development that began in 2008 with a basic health post at the Zone ‘D’ Headquarters, Bauchi. It was later upgraded to a clinic and a medical centre, before a 2023 partnership with ASR Africa converted it into a 30-bed hospital, completed in April 2025. Following a needs assessment, the CGC approved its expansion into a 60-bed secondary healthcare facility with selected tertiary services.
Now equipped with seven clinical departments—Nursing Services, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pediatrics, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Pharmacy, and Medical Laboratory—alongside Dental, Radiology, Nutrition, Administrative, and Health Information Management units, the hospital is expected to handle up to 300 patients per month in its first operational year. Long-term plans include advanced diagnostics such as CT scans and MRI and specialised surgical procedures, positioning the facility as a referral centre for the North-East and parts of North-Central Nigeria.
Earlier in the day, Adeniyi paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Sulaimanu Adamu, to discuss community partnership and development. According to a press statement signed by the Emir, he commended the Service for investing in healthcare infrastructure, noting that the hospital’s expansion strengthens both institutional service delivery and community wellbeing.
