Compt. Kaila commends COWA’s Cancer awareness drive, reaffirms customs’ community support

The Customs Area Controller of Seme Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Shuaibu Kaila, has commended the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Seme Chapter, for taking cancer awareness to border communities, describing the initiative as a life-saving intervention that underscores the importance of health and community wellbeing.

Kaila, who reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to supporting its host communities beyond its statutory responsibilities of revenue collection, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations, said the welfare of people remained an important consideration in the activities of the Command.

He gave the commendation on Friday, October 30, 2026, during a cancer awareness campaign organised by COWA Seme Chapter across communities and markets around the Seme border, targeting traders, drivers, commuters and other residents along the busy Lagos-Abidjan corridor.

The campaign, held under the theme, “Early Detection Saves Lives,” was designed to educate the public on cancer prevention, early warning signs and the importance of regular medical examinations.

Speaking during the exercise, Kaila noted that the programme represented an important dimension of public service, stressing that the success of an institution should not be viewed exclusively through its operational achievements but also through its positive contributions to society.

“Today is not about customs duties, revenue, or making seizures. We are at a border that never sleeps. This programme reminds us that fear should not make us hide; it should make us act, and act early,” he said.

His remarks reflected the Command’s recognition of the importance of community engagement and humanitarian interventions in an international border environment where the daily activities of Customs personnel are closely connected to the lives and livelihoods of residents, traders and transport operators.

The Comptroller’s endorsement also highlighted the complementary role of COWA in extending the humanitarian reach of the Nigeria Customs Service through health advocacy, social welfare and other community-oriented initiatives.

Leading the campaign, the Coordinator of COWA Seme Chapter, Maryam Abubakar, said the association was determined to address the fear, misconceptions and inadequate information surrounding cancer, particularly the belief among some members of the public that the disease was invariably a death sentence.

She explained that the campaign was aimed at encouraging people to overcome their apprehension about medical examinations and embrace early detection as a critical step towards effective treatment.

“Many of us are afraid to go for check-up. Many think that cancer is a death sentence. Our objectives today are simple, but powerful: to educate ourselves on how to detect cancer early; to learn how to live a healthier lifestyle to prevent it,” Abubakar said.

She also spoke on the early signs and preventive measures associated with different forms of cancer, emphasising the importance of healthy living, regular medical checks and prompt consultation with qualified health professionals whenever unusual symptoms are noticed.

The campaign commenced at the ECOWAS Joint Border Post before extending its awareness message to traders and other members of the border community.

The choice of the border environment was significant, considering the concentration of commercial activities and the large number of people who depend on the corridor for their daily livelihoods. For many traders and transport operators, long working hours and the pressure of business can make preventive healthcare a neglected priority.

By taking the campaign directly to markets and other public spaces, COWA sought to bring essential health information closer to the people and encourage them to make their wellbeing a priority.

Customs’ Community Support Beyond Enforcement

The cancer awareness campaign also brings into focus the broader humanitarian responsibilities associated with the Seme Area Command and the contributions of COWA to community welfare.

Although the Nigeria Customs Service plays a strategic role in border security, revenue generation, trade facilitation and the enforcement of government fiscal policies, its engagement with host communities also provides an opportunity to promote social development and public wellbeing.

Through COWA, the families of Customs officers have a platform to complement the Service’s institutional responsibilities with humanitarian activities that address the needs of communities.

At Seme, where the Command operates within a busy international trade corridor, such engagements are particularly relevant. The relationship between Customs and its host communities extends beyond the movement of goods and enforcement of border regulations to issues of mutual understanding, social responsibility and community development.

The association’s cancer awareness campaign therefore represents another opportunity to strengthen public engagement while drawing attention to a health challenge that affects individuals, families and communities irrespective of social or economic status.

It also reinforces the importance of collaboration between public institutions, community organisations and residents in addressing social concerns that require collective action.

A Broader Commitment to Community Wellbeing

The latest intervention underscores the importance of sustaining the humanitarian activities of COWA and the community support initiatives of the Seme Area Command.

In addition to health advocacy, community-oriented engagements involving social welfare, educational support and assistance to vulnerable groups remain important areas through which COWA and the Command can contribute to improving the lives of people around the border.

Such interventions complement the Command’s core operations by strengthening relationships with residents and promoting a sense of shared responsibility for the development and security of the border environment.

For the Seme Area Command, the importance of these engagements lies in recognising that the communities around the border are not merely geographical locations for Customs operations, but stakeholders whose cooperation and wellbeing contribute to a functional and peaceful operating environment.

The cancer awareness campaign has consequently provided an opportunity to connect the Service’s community relations objectives with a practical public health message.

As the campaign reached out to traders, commuters, drivers and other border users, its central message remained that fear and misconceptions should not prevent people from seeking medical attention.

Early detection, regular health examinations and healthier lifestyles can make a significant difference in cancer prevention and treatment outcomes.

For Kaila, supporting such initiatives reinforces the understanding that public service extends beyond official mandates. And for COWA, the campaign represents a continuing opportunity to translate humanitarian concern into practical community engagement.

Ultimately, the Seme initiative demonstrates how the Nigeria Customs Service, through the support of its Area Command and COWA, can combine its statutory responsibilities with interventions that promote healthier families, stronger community relationships and improved public wellbeing.