Nigeria Customs Steps Up Campaign Against Breast Cancer in Abuja

By Saheed Olatunji, Reporter

To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Nigeria Customs Service hosted a “Inspect, Detect, Protect” sensitisation event at its Abuja headquarters.

The programme united officers, medical professionals, and partners to champion early detection and prevention strategies against the disease.

Representing the Comptroller-General of the Service Adewale Adeniyi, Deputy Comptroller-General Oluyomi Adebakin stressed that cancer should not be viewed as a stigma or the end of life. She urged officers to stay vigilant about their health, noting that education and awareness are key to early detection and successful treatment.

“Cancer isn’t a stigma. It is a time to give attention to those affected and give them hope again. Together, we can build a healthier society, a healthier Service, and healthier communities,” Adebakin said.

The President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, who served as Special Guest of Honour and keynote speaker, urged officers, particularly women, to prioritise their health through regular self-examination and timely medical attention. She noted that women often focused on the wellbeing of their families while neglecting their own health, stressing the importance of early detection.

“Fellow officers, you must be alive before you get promoted. Check on yourself,” she said, while also reminding male officers that breast cancer could affect men and urging them to support women in their families and communities.

The Project Manager of the BOYA Project, Fauziya Abubakar, said the initiative had championed breast cancer awareness within the NCS for three years, stressing the need for sustained sensitisation and regular screening. She noted that early detection remained critical in addressing the disease.

A major highlight of the programme was a ₦50 million pledge by the Managing Director of Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Dr Jummai Umar-Ajijola, towards supporting the fight against breast cancer. Umar-Ajijola urged participants to apply the same diligence used in Customs operations to their personal health, saying, “When you are not sure, always ask and always check. No one has to fight this alone.”

The programme also featured a health talk, medical session, survivor testimony and a question-and-answer segment, before culminating in free breast cancer screening for officers and participants, translating the awareness campaign into practical action.