By David Oladimeji
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Kebbi Area Command, on Saturday, December 6, 2025, came alive with renewed energy as officers embarked on a general sanitation exercise across the Customs Headquarters and Sam Ango Barracks in Birnin Kebbi, reinforcing the Service’s commitment to discipline, teamwork, and environmental responsibility.
Leading the exercise was the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Mahmoud Matawalle Ibrahim, fdc, whose presence set the tone for the day’s activities. Officers of all ranks participated actively, turning the routine exercise into a symbolic demonstration of unity and shared responsibility.
Addressing officers during the cleanup, Comptroller Ibrahim explained that the sanitation exercise was designed to strengthen cooperation among personnel and encourage collective ownership of the work environment. He stressed that every officer, regardless of rank, plays a role in building a productive Service.
According to the Area Controller, a clean and orderly environment is not only a health requirement but also a mental booster that enhances officers’ efficiency. He noted that environmental hygiene directly affects alertness, discipline, and performance on duty.
“A clean and conducive environment equips us with the right state of mind to efficiently deliver on our core responsibilities of revenue generation, anti-smuggling, and trade facilitation,” the Comptroller stated, drawing nods of agreement from the officers.
He further charged Officers-in-Charge (OCs) and Patrol Team Leaders to replicate the sanitation exercise across all border stations and outstations under the Kebbi Command, ensuring uniform compliance with cleanliness standards.
Comptroller Ibrahim assured officers that the sanitation initiative would not be a one-off event but a regular activity aimed at sustaining a healthy and organized operational environment across the command.
The exercise featured sweeping, weeding, raking, burning of refuse, and general cleaning of both residential quarters and the immediate surroundings of the Customs facilities, transforming the environment within hours.
Beyond physical cleanliness, the event also served as a platform for personal growth, as the CAC later engaged officers in a brief discussion on self-development, emphasizing continuous self-improvement as a key factor for career advancement.
The day’s activities concluded in a relaxed atmosphere with light refreshments, leaving behind not just a cleaner environment but also a renewed sense of unity, motivation, and shared purpose among officers of the Kebbi Area Command.
