By George Ozalla
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has commissioned a rehabilitated Primary Healthcare Centre in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, as part of the Service’s community-focused interventions in its areas of operation.
The healthcare centre was rehabilitated by the Port Harcourt Area II Command under the Customs Cares initiative, which supports projects targeted at addressing identified needs in host communities.
Adeniyi commissioned the facility during his visit to the command in Onne, where he inspected the command’s operations and engaged with officials and other stakeholders.
Speaking during the commissioning, the Comptroller-General said the intervention demonstrated the importance the Nigeria Customs Service attaches to the welfare of communities where its commands operate.
He said Customs commands should not limit their activities to revenue collection and enforcement but should also identify areas where they could make practical contributions to the wellbeing of their host communities.
Adeniyi commended the Port Harcourt Area II Command for identifying the healthcare needs in Eleme and undertaking the rehabilitation of the facility.
He urged members of the community to protect the centre and ensure that the facilities provided were properly maintained.
The Comptroller-General said the sustainability of such interventions required the cooperation of the beneficiaries, stressing that community members had a responsibility to safeguard public facilities provided for their benefit.
The Area II Customs Area Controller, Aliyu Alkali, said the rehabilitation was undertaken as part of the command’s efforts to maintain a productive relationship with its host communities.
Alkali expressed appreciation to Adeniyi for supporting initiatives that enable Customs commands to respond to genuine community needs.
He said the intervention was considered necessary because of the importance of primary healthcare to the people and the need to provide residents with a more suitable facility for accessing basic medical services.
The Director of Medical Services, Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr Tonye Lawson-Jack, also commended the Nigeria Customs Service for rehabilitating the facility.
Lawson-Jack appreciated the Service for responding to the healthcare needs of the community and assured that the relevant health authorities would provide the necessary manpower to support the operation of the centre.
She said the facility would provide residents with access to basic healthcare services within their community.
The commissioning was attended by officials of the Nigeria Customs Service, representatives of the Rivers State primary healthcare authorities and members of the Eleme community.
Adeniyi subsequently charged the beneficiaries to protect the facility and make proper use of it, while the health authorities assured that the centre would be supported with the personnel required to provide services to residents.
