by Ajibola Adedoye
In a move aimed at strengthening emergency response capacity within Nigeria’s busiest port, the Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has launched a comprehensive first aid training programme for its officers and men. Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba described the initiative as a strategic step toward enhancing workplace safety and operational efficiency across the Command.
Receiving the medical team deployed by the Nigeria Customs Service, Oshoba noted that the exercise underscores the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s unwavering commitment to staff welfare. He said first aid competence is a universal life-saving skill that becomes even more critical for customs officers who routinely operate in high-risk and sometimes remote environments.
According to the Area Controller, quick and simple interventions such as CPR, bleeding control, choking relief, and stroke recognition can often determine whether a victim survives or suffers long-term complications. He cautioned that the absence of such skills during emergencies could lead to preventable fatalities.
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Highlighting the realities of field operations, Oshoba explained that customs personnel sometimes work in locations where medical professionals are not immediately accessible. “In critical moments, the person standing beside you becomes your temporary nurse or paramedic before a doctor is reached,” he emphasized.
While acknowledging that some participants may already have basic knowledge of first aid, he encouraged them to approach the sessions as essential refresher training. He urged first-time learners to participate actively in both the theoretical and practical drills, stressing that hands-on practice is crucial to developing confidence in emergency response.
Declaring the training programme open, Oshoba expressed optimism that the officers would acquire valuable skills that would benefit not only the Command but the Service nationwide.
Leading the medical exercise, the Zonal Medical Officer for Zone B, Comptroller A.S. Aku, took participants through practical demonstrations, ensuring every officer practiced CPR and techniques for assisting choking victims. He emphasized the critical role of first responders, noting that what happens in the first few minutes of an emergency often determines the outcome.
He explained that by the end of the session, officers should understand the core objectives of first aid, recognize the different types of emergency interventions, and know when and how to apply them. He noted that while emergencies are common in daily life, panic often hinders the ability to provide effective help.
The training also covered bleeding control, managing gunshot injuries, and stabilizing bone and joint trauma.
A key highlight of the programme was the formal presentation of the Customs Medical Corps First Aid Manual by the Zonal Medical Officer to Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba.
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