The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched a nationwide first aid training program for officers across all its formations to strengthen health awareness and emergency response capacity within the service.
The training, organised by the Customs Medical Corps, kicked off at the Zone B Headquarters on Monday in Kaduna.
In her welcome remarks, the Zonal Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Nsika Umoh, commended the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Mr. Bashir Adeniyi, for supporting the initiative and fostering collaboration with the medical team to promote health and safety awareness among personnel.
Represented by the Comptroller of Revenue, Abubakar Alkhali, Umoh said the exercise would help reduce workplace health risks and enhance officers’ ability to respond effectively during emergencies.
“This training will help reduce workplace incidents by equipping officers with the right knowledge to save lives, including their own.
When you know what to do in an emergency, you’re already halfway to solving the problem,” she stated.
Umoh added that participants were selected from various commands in Kaduna to cascade the knowledge to colleagues in their respective units.
In his remarks, the Comptroller of Customs and Chief Medical Director of the NCS Hospital, Karu, Abuja, Dr. Nanman Nandang, said the programme was part of the CGC’s directive to extend first aid sensitisation to all Customs formations nationwide.
He noted that the training would provide officers with practical first aid skills to handle emergencies both in the workplace and at home.
“Before reaching the hospital, survival often depends on immediate first aid response. This knowledge is crucial for officers who face risks such as injuries, snake bites, and other occupational hazards,” Nandang explained.
He said the sessions would cover essential topics such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), management of bleeding, wound care, choking relief, recovery position, and spinal injury management.
Also speaking, Deputy Comptroller and Consultant Family Physician, Dr. Adedoyin Adewumi, conducted a hands-on session on CPR, demonstrating assessment procedures, airway management, and resuscitation techniques.
She advised participants to always act swiftly and confidently in emergencies, noting that “CPR should only stop when the casualty starts breathing or regains consciousness.”
The NCS reiterated that the ongoing training will be extended to all zones, ensuring every officer is equipped with life-saving skills essential for both duty and daily life.