By Bon Peters
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: There was praise and tributes at the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Zone C Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last week as the Zonal Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Kamal Mohammed, formally retired from service upon attaining the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.
The send-off ceremony coincided with the commissioning of the newly reconstructed Customs Area I Clinic and Quarter Guard, a welfare-driven project executed under the leadership of the Area Controller, Salamatu Atuluku, and inaugurated by the outgoing Zonal Coordinator.
Speaking during the commissioning, ACG Mohammed expressed delight and a deep sense of fulfilment at the transformation of the health facility, describing the event as a defining moment in his final days in service.
“It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of fulfilment that I stand before you today to witness and formally commission the renovated Customs Clinic. For a long time, this clinic remained in a deplorable state, struggling to meet the expectations and healthcare needs of officers, their families and the surrounding community,” he said.
The retired Customs chief noted that the narrative had been positively rewritten through what he described as the passion, resilience and unwavering commitment demonstrated under the dynamic leadership of Comptroller Atuluku. He said her vision, foresight and determination transformed a long-standing challenge into a worthy and enduring success.
Emphasising the importance of health to institutional effectiveness, Mohammed quoted Mahatma Gandhi as saying that “health is real wealth, not pieces of gold and silver,” noting that a healthy workforce remained the backbone of any effective organisation. According to him, the provision of quality healthcare was fundamental to sustaining productivity, morale and excellence in service delivery.
He said the renovation aligned with the Nigeria Customs Service’s Corporate Social Responsibility mandate and reflected the Service’s commitment to the welfare, well-being and productivity of its officers and stakeholders. He added that the project also resonated with the policy thrust of the Comptroller-General of Customs, anchored on the pillars of collaboration, consolidation and innovation.
“As part of our commitment to contribute meaningfully to the healthcare needs of the Port community, we are also conducting free blood pressure and blood sugar screening tests today. This outreach underscores our resolve to extend care beyond infrastructure and directly impact lives through preventive health services,” he said.
Mohammed further disclosed that the clinic would not be exclusive to the Nigeria Customs Service but open to sister security agencies as a deliberate gesture of cooperation and synergy. Quoting Theodore Roosevelt, he said, “The welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all,” stressing that national security and development were collective responsibilities that transcended institutional boundaries.
According to him, promoting access to quality healthcare across agencies would strengthen inter-agency relations, enhance operational efficiency and foster mutual respect and shared purpose in the discharge of national duties.
“Today’s occasion represents more than the commissioning of a healthcare facility; it is a clear testament to purposeful leadership, teamwork and the enduring values of service, compassion and innovation that define the Nigeria Customs Service,” Mohammed said.
He commended Comptroller Atuluku, her management team and all contributors and stakeholders for their roles in delivering the project, noting that their collective efforts would leave a lasting legacy for present and future generations.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Customs Area Controller, Area I Port Harcourt Command, Comptroller Atuluku, said the event was not only to commission the renovated Staff Clinic and Quarter Guard but also to honour the distinguished career of the retiring Zonal Coordinator.
She described ACG Mohammed as a steadfast and selfless leader whose tenure was marked by commitment to duty and a robust relationship with officers and men of the Service, wishing him a fulfilling retirement.
Atuluku said the commissioning aligned with the NCS policy on staff welfare, occupational health and safety, stressing that the health and well-being of officers remained fundamental to effective service delivery. She explained that upon assuming duty in September 2025, an assessment revealed that the clinic was in poor condition and required urgent intervention.
According to her, renovation works included restoration of electricity supply, repainting, replacement of window blinds, tiling of floors, repairs to critical bays, restocking of the pharmacy and other improvements aimed at enhancing service delivery and the working environment.
“The renovated Staff Clinic is now better positioned to provide timely and efficient healthcare services to officers and men of the Command. In furtherance of inter-agency cooperation and community engagement, the clinic will also be accessible to stakeholders, sister agencies and members of the public,” she said.
She added that the renovation of the Quarter Guard was equally significant, noting that it remained central to discipline, security and effective command control, in line with established Customs standards on security infrastructure and facility maintenance.
Atuluku described it as symbolic that the welfare projects were commissioned by ACG Mohammed, whose tenure, she said, was defined by strong emphasis on staff welfare, discipline, capacity development and institutional strengthening.
She expressed gratitude to the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for his leadership and commitment to staff welfare and infrastructure development, as well as members of the Management Team for their guidance and support.
The Controller also commended officers and men of the Port Harcourt Area I Command for their cooperation and adherence to Service guidelines in executing the projects, urging users to ensure proper maintenance of the facilities.
The event was attended by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Inspection and Investigation, Timi Bomodi, who delivered a goodwill message and paid glowing tributes to the retiring ACG.
Other dignitaries included Comptrollers from Zone C, officers and men of various Customs commands, members of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), sister security agencies such as the Police, Immigration and Quarantine Services, and other key stakeholders.
The high point of the ceremony was the cutting of a retirement cake and the presentation of gifts in honour of the outgoing Zonal Coordinator
