Rescuing Our Schools the Nigeria Customs Way
By Abdulsalam Mahmud
There is no greater tragedy than watching a nation turn its back on the soul of its future—its children. In the streets of Ibadan, the slums of Ajegunle, and the dry edges of northern plains, the chalkboards are cracked, the floors dusty, and the teachers weary.
Nigeria’s basic education system—particularly at the primary level—lies in silent, aching ruins. Once a sacred ground where minds were lit with knowledge, primary schools across the country have become shadows of themselves.
A visit to many public primary schools tells the story plainly. Crumbling buildings with broken windows, toilets that mock human dignity, children learning under trees or in overcrowded makeshift classrooms, and chalk-wielding teachers who have not been trained or properly paid in years.
Here, education is not just in crisis—it is endangered. Millions of pupils in rural communities cannot read or write, yet they are promoted year after year, pushed through a broken system like paper through a shredder.
The consequences are stark. A generation that cannot think critically, a youth population angry yet uninformed, and an economic future threatened by illiteracy and ignorance.
This educational decay is not merely a developmental concern—it is a national security threat. A society where knowledge is not nurtured will inevitably be swallowed by ignorance, extremism and stagnation.
It is time for an institutional rethink—beyond the conventional Ministries and Departments—of who can and should play a role in salvaging our educational landscape. And in this moment of grave need, leadership must wear new uniforms.
It is not just about who wears suits or agbadas, but who sees the abandoned future and dares to restore it. This is why the recent intervention by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) under the forward-thinking leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi is not only laudable—it is revolutionary.
Customs, an agency best known for enforcing trade regulations and collecting revenue, is now boldly redefining its footprint by stepping into the trenches of Nigeria’s educational decay.
On Wednesday, CGC Adeniyi, commissioned a newly-renovated Local Authority Primary School and a Primary Healthcare Centre in the Sagbokoji community, Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State, under the “Customs Cares” initiative.
Speaking during the launch, Adeniyi said the NCS remains committed to supporting host communities, noting that the initiative addresses both educational and infrastructural needs.
His words, “We are undertaking projects that will have direct impact on our schools and our students. We have brought school bags, exercise books, textbooks, and sandals for all the pupils of this school.
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“We are also improving Infrastructure, where we see the deficit, and what we have chosen to do is to renovate the entire school. And I’m happy that through Apapa and the Stakeholders, we have been able to deliver on this project.”
He also emphasised the importance of healthcare to community development, which is a critical pillar of what the service is doing. “We know that the needs of this community is more than what we have done, but we have taken the first step towards entering into an enduring partnership with this community.”
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Apapa Area Command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu, noted that the project exemplifies the Service’s commitment to community well-being, beyond its core mandates of trade facilitation, revenue generation, and anti-smuggling.
“The benevolence from Customs shows that we have compassion for the communities where we cohabit, and this was what informed this very project.
“In the last four weeks, it’s been both day and night, workers have been here, with the active support of our distinguished stakeholders, to ensure that this project actually see the light of day”, Olomu said.
In his goodwill message, Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area, Engr. Valentine Buraimoh, expressed appreciation to the NCS, describing the gesture as unprecedented.
“This is the first time we are witnessing uniform men in the helm of affairs doing this project. And today, I’m highly elated for this gesture. I want to appreciate the NCS for renovating our school and the Primary Healthcare centre.”
The headmaster of LA Primary School, Oladeyo Emmanuel, also lauded the Service for its intervention, noting that the facelift would boost the morale of teachers and students alike.
The event featured the distribution of educational materials to pupils, and culminated in the official commissioning of both the school and the healthcare facility.
In a time when public officials jostle for applause without substance, the Customs Service has quietly set a standard that challenges every agency of government.
If the NCS can rise beyond its routine to fix blackboards and paint hope on classroom walls, what excuse do others have? Ministries with education in their portfolios must now look over their shoulders.
It is not about mandates anymore. It is about humanity. And Customs, through this gesture, has proven that national development is not a job title but a commitment to legacy.
The agency has demonstrated that the future of Nigeria’s children should not depend solely on the ministry in charge, but on the will of every agency with a conscience.
The real reformers of our great nation are not those who wait for perfect policy alignment. They are those who act, those who see the rot and dare to rebuild.
If we must salvage Nigeria’s failing education system, then we must embrace this Customs model—action over excuse, impact over indifference. This, truly, is how to lead a reform.
Mahmud, Deputy Editor of PRNigeria, can be reached at: [email protected].
