The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has begun a free medical outreach in Daura, Katsina State, providing healthcare services to approximately 2,000 residents. The exercise is part of the service's 7th Retreat Medical Outreach programme, which includes medical consultations, dental care, eye and ear treatment, and minor surgical procedures.
Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Ahmad Tijjani-Abe, stated the initiative aims to improve healthcare access for communities hosting Customs operations. He said medical personnel are distributing free drugs, conducting deworming sessions for schoolchildren, and giving out mosquito nets and health kits.
Dr Ethelbert Ikechukwu, the Medical Team Leader, said the outreach is a Comptroller-General-led initiative implemented in various parts of Nigeria over the years. He explained that the exercise supports people who cannot afford medical care and complements existing health services. Patients needing advanced treatment are being referred to appropriate facilities.
Residents praised the outreach for its impact. Musa Ibrahim said he received free consultation and medication, calling the support a relief. Amina Usman commended the medical team's professionalism, adding that women, children, and vulnerable groups are benefiting from the intervention.
Ahmad Tijjani-Abe oversees a Customs health outreach in Daura while the service remains primarily tasked with revenue collection, not healthcare delivery. The fact that residents express gratitude for basic medical access suggests a gap in public health provision that security agencies are now stepping in to fill. This shifts focus from the core responsibilities of Customs to social services better handled by state institutions. The reliance on federal agencies for healthcare raises questions about the effectiveness of local health infrastructure in Katsina.
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