The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has commenced a comprehensive basic first aid training programme for its officers and men, a move described by the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, as a vital investment in workplace safety and operational readiness.
Declaring the training open at the Command headquarters, Comptroller Oshoba said the initiative aligns with the priority the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, places on personnel welfare and capacity building. He noted that first aid knowledge is a universal life skill, particularly essential for officers who often operate in high-risk environments.
Oshoba stated that timely interventions such as CPR, bleeding control, choking relief and stroke recognition can determine whether a victim survives or suffers avoidable long-term damage. He warned that lack of first aid capability during emergencies could result in preventable fatalities.
According to him, customs personnel are frequently deployed to locations where immediate access to medical professionals is limited, making officers the first responders in many emergency situations. “The person standing next to you could be your emergency nurse or paramedic before a doctor is reached,” he said.
He explained that first aid skills help reduce the severity of injuries, control bleeding, relieve pain, and stabilize victims who may be at risk of losing consciousness. While acknowledging that some officers were already familiar with first aid techniques, he urged them to see the programme as a crucial refresher, and encouraged first-time participants to be fully engaged in both the theoretical and practical sessions.
Speaking during the practical demonstration phase, the Team Lead and Zonal Medical Officer for Zone B, Comptroller A.S. Aku, guided officers through hands-on CPR drills and choking-relief techniques. He emphasized that the first few minutes of an emergency are critical.
“When there is an emergency, you are a first responder. What you do in those first moments before help arrives is crucial,” Aku said. “At the end of this exercise, we should understand the four goals of first aid, identify different categories of first aid and know when to administer them. Many times, our families, colleagues or friends require urgent help, but panic sets in because we lack the right skills.”
The training also covered handling bleeding, gunshot incidents, bone and joint injuries, and other life-saving interventions.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of the Customs Medical Corps First Aid Manual by Comptroller Aku to the Apapa Area Controller.
The training was coordinated by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Superintendent of Customs JT Ayagbalo, on behalf of the Customs Area Controller.