The Controller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has directed the medical services unit of the Service to ensure that Nigerians, anywhere they are, got access to efficient, effective and quality Healthcare delivery services at affordable prices.
The disclosure was made by the Zonal Medical Officer (ZMO) of the Zone D, Nigeria Customs Service, Bauchi, Deputy Controller of Customs, (DCC), Sanusi Rimi Garba, while interacting with members of the Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD) at the Abdul Samad Rabiu Customs Hospital, Bauchi.
According to him, “These projects are the result of the partnership between the Chairman of the ASR Africa Initiative and the founder of BUA, Abdul Samad Rabiu, and the Controller General of the Nigerian Customs Service. Having understood, there is a health need that needs to be fulfilled in the North-East, where they suffer a lot of insecurity and poor healthcare infrastructure.”
He added that, “So many of our officers have to travel to Abuja or at least just to get the healthcare they need. And that’s what brings the issue with the Controller General of Customs. Based on his visionary leadership, based on his policy trust, and we think we should have a premier hospital in the North-East.”
He further said that,”The Controller General of Customs, Dr. Basheer Adewale Adeniyi, officially commissioned this hospital on 22nd of February 2026. So we can say that this hospital is merely the same with us. But the impact this hospital provided to the people of Bauchi State and their environs should never be overemphasized.”
According to him,”This hospital has not just started on that day, it has been a shelter since 2007 with a lot of collaboration that is being converted to the 50-bed health facility with Seven Departments, Three specialized Units. We have two functioning theaters, we have delivery suite, and the highly sophisticated laboratory center and the dental center in this facility.”
He further disclosed that,”I would like you to know that the Controller General of Customs, in collaboration with ASR Africa, they provided this hospital as part of the corporate social responsibility of their respective organisations and also demonstrated how public-private partnership can relate it.”
“And today, we are lucky to have the presence of NUJ Bauchi State and the Executive Director of J4PD. But before I proceed, I must tell you that you’re in the right place. I myself am a public health specialist in addition to my duties. My Matron has a Doctor of Philosophy in public health. Our Pharmacist has a Masters in Public Health, and our Doctor, so many people here are all knowledgeable in public health in addition to our primary certification with the specialization in public health. So you come at the right time.”
He pointed out that,”This hospital has seven departments, namely Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Compounding. We have a department of medical laboratory science. We have almost of all our gadgets are highly automated and follow a standard protocol and the latest development equipment. And we have a department of Nursing, which is headed by the only PhD holder in the hospital. And we have the department of medicine. And we have a department of obstetrics and gynecology.”
He added that,”So if you see the department of obstetrics and gynecology, that is why we need to do a lot of collaboration with you. We are going to see our delivery suite. We are going to see our personnel health unit. We are going to see where we offer antenatal care to the women.”
Sanusi Rimi Garba added that, “Like I told you, the Controller General of Customs is not making this place have a profit making. He’s doing it as a service delivery center. But because of the care of abuse, that’s why he put a very token on the services and I am going to explain after I discuss the other services.”
“We have a department of surgery. We have a department of pediatrics. Then we have a department of medical health records. And we have a specialized unit. We have a unit of nutrition and dietitics. And we have a department of dental surgery. And we are going to see that we have the latest gadgets that deal with anything that is related to the mouth and teeth. we have the unit of radiology where we do ultrasound scan. And we have one of the best equipment that you can ever see,” he added .
According to him,”Then we have the theater, we have accident and emergency unit in this hospital. And we have 50 beds that take care of the males, females, children, and young adults. And we respond to the emergency 24/7.”
He also disclosed that, “It is all clear to know that on the first month of our operation, from 17th of February to 28th of February, we were able to see only 28 patients because of the lack of awareness. The people thought that this hospital is mainly for Officers.”..
He added that,”Though they are aware of the building, that this is, you can see the building that it’s not a small building. So people don’t come in. They say, ah, this is Customs. And no. So we have to get the instructions by the Controller General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, that we should have a deliberate awareness. We have another arm, the hospital that has been agreed to, we call it a mobile clinic services, where we are used to go to communities to offer free medical checkups and to give them free medical treatment.”
“And the Controller General of Customs, on his own wisdom, dedicated some funds that every month we want us to go at least one community to offer them free health services. And I would like to inform you that as today, we are able to attend to Nine communities in Bauchi Zone where we offered free health services based on courtesy and the good conduct of Controller General of Customs. I think we need to appreciate him,” he added.
The ZMO further said that,”Then in addition, we are also planning another one. And so that’s where you come in. It comes at the right time because public health and development is the cornerstone for achieving sustainable development goals, not only sustainable development goal 3, it is also able to achieve SDG 1, 2, 4, 7, and 9, so that ensure the healthy world and ensure nobody has been oppressed in every time related to the health.”
According to him,”That is one arm that we have been very good at, but it’s not publicly recognized because we have not come across to you. Now we are going to do everything together with you people so that people can know that this is what is doing, that this is why our challenges in Nigeria. “
He further said that,”There are two government agencies that are devoted to ensure the well-being and the health of Nigeria. I’m sure this is part of the Controller General’s strategic plan that has been directed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President.”…
He added that,”And the Controller General of Customs has keyed into it and is leading other agencies to implement the comprehensive service that will make a positive impact in the society.”
“Coming back to this hospital, this hospital from March to yesterday, we have seen 578 patients. We have offered 122 highly specialized services. We have done 15 minor surgeries. We have done a phase major surgery. And we are all successful. This hospital has conducted three deliveries from our inception to today.”
According to him,”In the laboratory, as just last month alone, we have done 337 laboratory tests. And in the pharmacy, our data has shown that, just last month, we have offered 576 prescriptions. And it’s not only the number that matters, it’s the strategy and the directive of Controller General of Customs that make matters very important.”
He added that, “And I want you to take it to the bank and tell everybody that the CG of Nigerian Customs Service, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeeni, has mandated this hospital to collect only N500 naira for consultation fee. So in the whole Bauchi and the North East, I don’t know any hospital that you come to the hospital and pay only N500.”
Speaking earlier, Executive Director of Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiatives (J4PD), Elizabeth Kah, stressed that the Hospital, considering its proximity will take care of the undeserved community of Yelwa in terms of Secondary and Tertiary health services.
Elizabeth Kah added that issues of public health need to be adequately cared for in order to promote a healthy society considering the fact that public health comprises every aspect of life.
She then promised that her organization is ever ready to collaborate with the facility in the area of awareness creation and advocacy.
Also speaking, State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Umar Saidu, commended NCS for establishing the hospital which he said will complement Government’s effort of providing accessible Healthcare services to the populace.
He later conducted the Journalists round the facilities with assurance that the NCS is ready to accommodate every patient who comes to access services.
