The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Medical Unit has commenced its 7th Annual Medical Corps Retreat in Katsina State, with a focus on improving healthcare delivery and operational wellbeing among personnel.
The five-day retreat, which began on Monday, 11 May 2026, is themed “Operational Wellbeing: Protecting Health to Protect Borders.” It is designed to strengthen the capacity of medical personnel through professional engagement, policy reviews, strategic planning, and knowledge sharing among healthcare experts and stakeholders from across the country.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Human Resource Development, Tijjani Abe, reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to quality healthcare delivery and staff welfare.
He described the retreat as a vital platform for professional interaction and strategic discussions aimed at improving medical services within the Service.
“A healthy workforce remains the backbone of operational efficiency, productivity, and institutional effectiveness,” he stated.
The CGC also commended the government and people of Katsina State for hosting the retreat and encouraged participants to strengthen professional relationships and exchange valuable experiences that would improve healthcare services across the NCS.
In his welcome address, the Head of the Customs Medical Unit, Comptroller of Customs Ethelbert Nnaji, appreciated the support of the Customs management in strengthening the Service’s healthcare system.
According to him, the annual retreat provides an opportunity to review the performance of the Customs Medical Corps and develop recommendations to guide management in enhancing healthcare delivery.
Nnaji explained that Katsina State was selected as the venue because of the extensive Customs operations in the state and the need to deepen engagement with host communities for effective service delivery.
As part of activities lined up for the retreat, the NCS Medical Unit will also conduct a free medical outreach in Daura under its corporate social responsibility initiative.
“We intend to explore options, orthodox practices, and technological innovations that will bring quality healthcare closer to our officers wherever they operate,” he added.
Declaring the retreat open, Governor Umar Dikko Radda, represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Musa Adamu Funtua, praised the Nigeria Customs Service for prioritising the health and welfare of its personnel.
He commended the leadership of the Comptroller-General for promoting people-centred policies that continue to strengthen institutional care and operational effectiveness within the Service.
“A healthy workforce is essential to effective service delivery and the attainment of organisational goals and objectives,” he noted.
The governor’s representative also acknowledged the contributions of facilitators and resource persons from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and other institutions participating in the retreat.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Zonal Coordinator of Zone “B”, Nsikan Umoh, appreciated the Katsina State Government, the leadership of the NCS, participants, and stakeholders for supporting the successful hosting of the retreat.
The event also featured paper presentations by health experts from across the country, aimed at equipping participants with modern medical knowledge and innovative ideas to improve healthcare delivery within the Customs Medical Corps.
Senior officers of the Service, Customs Area Controllers under Zone “B”, medical professionals, and other stakeholders attended the opening ceremony.
The retreat is expected to conclude with a large-scale free medical outreach in Daura and visits to selected health facilities for benchmarking and assessment.
