By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on 6 October 2026 marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a sensitisation programme at its Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, to promote awareness, early detection, and prevention of breast cancer among officers and stakeholders. The programme, themed “Inspect, Detect, Protect,” brought together officers, medical professionals and partners to strengthen the fight against the disease.
The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Information and Communication Technology and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said cancer should not be regarded as a stigma or the end of life. She urged officers to remain vigilant about their health, stressing that education and sensitisation were critical to early detection and effective management of the disease.
“Cancer isn’t a stigma. It is a time to give attention to those affected and give them hope again. Together, we can build a healthier society, a healthier Service, and healthier communities,” Adebakin said.
The President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, who served as Special Guest of Honour and keynote speaker, urged officers, particularly women, to prioritise their health through regular self-examination and timely medical attention. She noted that women often focused on the wellbeing of their families while neglecting their own health, stressing the importance of early detection.
“Fellow officers, you must be alive before you get promoted. Check on yourself,” she said, while also reminding male officers that breast cancer could affect men and urging them to support women in their families and communities.
The Project Manager of the BOYA Project, Fauziya Abubakar, said the initiative had championed breast cancer awareness within the NCS for three years, stressing the need for sustained sensitisation and regular screening. She noted that early detection remained critical in addressing the disease.
A major highlight of the programme was a ₦50 million pledge by the Managing Director of Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Dr Jummai Umar-Ajijola, towards supporting the fight against breast cancer. Umar-Ajijola urged participants to apply the same diligence used in Customs operations to their personal health, saying, “When you are not sure, always ask and always check. No one has to fight this alone.”
The programme also featured a health talk, medical session, survivor testimony and a question-and-answer segment, before culminating in free breast cancer screening for officers and participants, translating the awareness campaign into practical action.
