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The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, on Tuesday inaugurated a 60-bed ultramodern hospital in Bauchi State, built in partnership with ASR Africa, the philanthropic organization founded by billionaire Abdul Samad Rabiu.
The project, funded by a N500 million grant from ASR Africa, is expected to boost healthcare services for customs officers, their families and residents of nearby communities.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Adeniyi said the hospital was designed to improve access to quality medical care for personnel who often work in tough and isolated conditions.
“Our officers serve with dedication under challenging conditions. Providing access to quality medical care is critical to maintaining their health, morale, and operational readiness,” he said.
He explained that the facility was initially planned as a 30-bed hospital but was later expanded after a detailed needs assessment showed a larger capacity was required.
“As we progressed, we expanded the initial scope of the project from a 30-bed facility to a fully equipped 60-bed hospital, complete with modern infrastructure and enhanced operational capacity,” Adeniyi said.
He thanked ASR Africa and BUA Group for what he described as a meaningful investment in both institutional strength and public welfare. According to him, the hospital will not only cater to customs personnel but will also serve the wider community in Bauchi.
“This facility improves access to quality healthcare for customs personnel and their families while also serving the surrounding communities,” he added.
Managing Director of ASR Africa, Ubong Udo, said the project aligns with the organisation’s broader commitment to health, education and social development across Nigeria and other African countries.
“Our interventions cut across health, education and social development. We currently have about 82 projects ongoing across Nigeria and several others across African countries,” Udo said.
He noted that the hospital was delivered under ASR Africa’s Security Sector Support Programme, an initiative aimed at strengthening institutions responsible for maintaining safety and order.
Udo stressed that meaningful development cannot take place in an insecure environment, which is why the organisation continues to partner with security agencies.
“It is impossible to achieve meaningful development without an environment that is safe and secure. That is why we remain committed to partnering with security agencies,” he said.
He added that ASR Africa does not impose projects on beneficiary institutions but allows them to identify priority needs. In this case, the Nigeria Customs Service chose to invest the N500 million grant in healthcare infrastructure.
“We do not presume to tell beneficiaries what to do with the grants. The Customs leadership identified this as a critical need, and we supported it,” Udo said.
He described the hospital as proof that strong partnerships between the private sector and public institutions can deliver lasting benefits that extend beyond organisational boundaries and strengthen communities.
