Kwara Customs Reaffirms Its Commitment To Youth Devt
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kwara Area Command, has reaffirmed its commitment to initiatives that promote youth development, community security and industrial growth, stressing the need for stronger collaborations with stakeholders across the state.
The Command made this known at a youth football tournament organised by the Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON) and a conference of manufacturers in Kwara and Kogi states.
The Acting Area Controller of the Command, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Najeem Akanmu Ogundeyi, participated in the grand finale of the 17th edition of the Kwara State Commissioner of Police Cup held at the Kwara Football Academy Field, George Innih Stadium, Ilorin, on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
The grassroots Under-13 and Under-17 tournament, organised by YSFON, Kwara State Branch, in partnership with the Nigeria Police Force, brought together young male and female footballers from different parts of the state.
The event, hosted by the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, CP Adekimi Ojo, also attracted representatives of the state government and heads of security agencies.
Ogundeyi commended the police command for sustaining the competition for 17 consecutive editions, describing youth-focused programmes as important tools for keeping young people engaged in productive activities.
He said such initiatives could contribute to crime prevention, community security, social integration and peaceful coexistence.
According to him, “Youth-focused initiatives provide constructive opportunities for young people while contributing to crime prevention, community security, unity and social development.”
The Customs boss also assured stakeholders of the command’s readiness to support credible community initiatives capable of promoting youth development and creating a peaceful environment for economic activities.
In a related development, the NCS Kwara Area Command participated in the 12th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Kwara/Kogi States Branch, held on Thursday, September 3, 2026, at the association’s house on New Yidi Road, Ilorin.
The conference, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Industrial Potential Through an Efficient Power Value Chain,” brought together major stakeholders in the manufacturing sector, including the President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, and the association’s Director-General, Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir.
Representing the Acting Area Controller at the conference, Chief Superintendent of Customs Margaret Bassey Ita, Officer in Charge of the Command’s Excise Unit, delivered a goodwill message outlining areas of collaboration between Customs and the manufacturing sector.
Ita highlighted efforts by the NCS to facilitate legitimate trade, including the digitalisation of customs processes to improve cargo clearance, implementation of the Authorised Economic Operator Scheme for compliant businesses, and recently approved import exemptions covering critical industrial materials and machinery.
She stressed the importance of sustained engagement between the NCS and manufacturers to identify and resolve operational challenges affecting businesses and legitimate trade.
The Command said its participation in the two events demonstrated the Service’s broader approach of combining its revenue collection and enforcement responsibilities with community engagement, inter-agency cooperation, trade facilitation and support for legitimate industrial activities.
The statement, signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Customs Sani Mohammed Suleiman, said the NCS would continue to strengthen partnerships with relevant stakeholders in pursuit of security, economic development and the expansion of legitimate trade in Kwara State and Nigeria.
