By Bon Peters
PORT HARCCOURT/Nigeria: The Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA) has launched its flagship Sustainability and Green Border Initiative in Zone C, Rivers State, raising more than N500 million to support environmental restoration and women empowerment programmes. The initiative, championed by the National President of COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adewale Adeniyi—wife of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR—targets Nigeria’s border communities with programs focused on ecosystem recovery and economic upliftment for members.
The event commenced on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, with a symbolic tree-planting exercise at the Customs Area 1 Port Harcourt Command, and later transitioned to a dinner and fundraising ceremony at Js Signature Hotel.
Speaking at the launch, Mrs. Adeniyi said the initiative was conceived to take environmental sustainability awareness to border towns that have “for too long been neglected,” adding that climate change has compelled COWA to embrace actionable solutions that restore the environment while empowering their members.
She explained that members would be trained in waste management, recycling, and other green economy skills, emphasising that COWA had already planted 862 trees since October 2025 when the project debuted. She revealed plans to plant 15,000 more trees as part of efforts to mitigate pollution and preserve the ecosystem.
Decrying the high rate of deforestation in the Niger Delta due to oil exploration, Mrs. Adeniyi urged Nigerians to plant trees and even home-grown vegetables to help address environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. She noted that the initiative had already reached border posts such as Seme, Idiroko and Illela, with more locations to be covered soon.
“If you plant trees, you plant hope,” she said, encouraging communities and officers to nurture the trees already planted.
Representing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, Mr. Allwell Chinedu Okereuku, commended COWA for taking bold steps toward environmental sustainability and pledged the state government’s support.
Chairperson of COWA Zone C and wife of the Comptroller of FOU Zone C, Dr. Mrs. Bolanle Balogun, described the initiative as wide-ranging, covering recycling, tree planting, pollution control and waste disposal. She highlighted Mrs. Adeniyi’s growing global influence, noting her recent presentation of the initiative in Brazil.
“This project is about bringing positive change to our members and to society,” she said, assuring that Zone C would push the programme to the grassroots.
At the dinner, Zone C Zonal Coordinator, ACG Mohammed Kamal—represented by Comptroller Yusuf Alkali—commended the initiative as one that “safeguards the land that shelters us and the future of our children.” He praised Mrs. Adeniyi’s leadership, saying COWA continues to empower women with skills that drive meaningful change.
He encouraged stakeholders to support the fundraising drive, stressing that the initiative represents a shared responsibility toward a greener and more inclusive Nigeria.
The launch attracted Customs Area Controllers from across Zone C, freight forwarding groups including ANLCA and NAGAFF, bonded terminal operators, shipping companies, and officials of the Rivers State Government.
Leading the donations was the Customs Zone C Freight Forwarders group, which contributed N500 million to the project’s environmental and empowerment programmes.
