The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Zone ‘A’, has unveiled its inaugural Inter-Command Games to promote fitness, teamwork and camaraderie among officers across its commands.
The Zonal Coordinator, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG), Mohammed Babandede, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the games on Tuesday at the Customs Training College in Lagos.
The competition was declared open by Comptroller Chidi Nwokorie, Chairman, Zone ‘A’ Sports Committee, who represented Babandede.
Babandede said the initiative was founded on the conviction that a healthy workforce would guarantee improved performance and greater productivity in the service.
He thanked the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr Bashir Adeniyi, for approving the games and urged participating officers to compete fairly while upholding the spirit of sportsmanship.
“Winning must never become more important than the reason we are gathered here,” he told participants at the opening ceremony.
The zonal coordinator reminded the officers that despite representing different commands, they remained part of one service.
“We all wear one greater uniform, the uniform of the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.
Babandede urged the participants to “compete hard, compete fairly, stay safe and enjoy the games,” ahead of the grand finale scheduled for Sept. 5.
Meanwhile, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Customs Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, said sports remained indispensable to paramilitary organisations and essential to officers’ professional development and wellbeing.
Oshoba said sports instilled discipline, enhanced physical and mental fitness, and promoted bonding and social interaction among personnel across commands.
The Comptroller, Post Clearance Audit, Zone ‘A’, Florence Madu, described the games as a landmark initiative that would unite officers and strengthen relationships among commands.
Similarly, the acting controller of Port and Terminal Multi-Services Ltd. (PTML), Deputy Comptroller Nura Miko, said the programme aligned with the Comptroller-General’s work-life balance initiative aimed at boosting cohesion and morale among officers.
The Zone ‘A’ Public Relations Officer, Edeminam Akaninyene, said the opening football matches saw Tincan Island Command defeat Western Marine Command 1-0, while Apapa Command edged Lilypond Command by the same scoreline.
Akaninyene said the competition would continue with participation from commands and units across Zone ‘A’, culminating in the grand finale on Sept. 5.
