The Nigeria Customs Service Medical Unit on Monday, May 11, 2026, commenced its 7th Annual Medical Corps Retreat in Katsina State, with a strong focus on strengthening operational health systems and enhancing personnel welfare across the Service.
The five-day retreat, themed “Operational Wellbeing: Protecting Health to Protect Borders”, brings together medical professionals, policymakers, and stakeholders to review policies, share expertise, and develop strategies aimed at improving healthcare delivery within the Service.
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 staff welfare and a more robust medical system.
He stressed that the retreat remains a key platform for professional engagement and strategic planning, noting that “a healthy workforce remains the backbone of operational efficiency, productivity, and institutional effectiveness”.
In his remarks, Head of the Customs Medical Unit, Comptroller Ethelbert Nnaji, highlighted the importance of the annual gathering in evaluating performance and shaping future healthcare improvements within the Service. He also appreciated management support for strengthening medical services across all commands.
Nnaji disclosed that the choice of Katsina for this year’s edition reflects the Service’s strong operational presence in the state and its commitment to deepening collaboration with host communities. He further announced plans for a free medical outreach in Daura as part of the retreat’s corporate social responsibility activities.
Declaring the retreat open, Governor Umar Radda, represented by the State Commissioner for Health, Musa Funtua, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for prioritising the health and welfare of its workforce, describing it as critical to effective service delivery.
The governor also praised the strong relationship between the Customs Service and residents of Katsina State, while acknowledging contributions from facilitators and health experts drawn from institutions including Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital.
In a vote of thanks, Zonal Coordinator, Zone “B,” Nsikan Umoh, appreciated the collaboration of stakeholders and reaffirmed the importance of continued institutional support for healthcare advancement within the Service.
The retreat featured expert paper presentations aimed at improving medical capacity and operational efficiency.
The retreat culminated I’ll sendin a large-scale free medical outreach in Daura, alongside visits to selected health facilities for assessment and benchmarking.