Customs Renovates Lagos School, Unveils Sports Arena to Boost Education, Community Well-Being
The Nigeria Customs Service has strengthened its community development drive in Lagos with the renovation of Methodist Primary School, Ibeshe and the commissioning of the Wale Adeniyi Sports Arena, initiatives aimed at improving education, promoting fitness, and deepening community relations.
The dual projects were inaugurated on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, by Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi, who described them as evidence of the Service’s commitment to meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility aligned with global development priorities.
According to him, the interventions reflect a deliberate strategy to create lasting value for host communities while strengthening institutional ties with the public.
Speaking at the school’s unveiling in Ikorodu, the Customs boss commended the Lilypond Export Command for selecting the project, praising what he termed its foresight and community-centred approach. He emphasised that such initiatives represent the kind of measurable social impact the Service intends to replicate nationwide.
“This is the kind of impact we want to make through our CSR. This is very gratifying not just to management, but also to the members of the community that we are serving,” he said.
The comprehensive renovation covered more than 15 classroom blocks and introduced a wide range of new facilities, including solar-powered security lighting, computer rooms, a library, sanitation facilities for teachers and pupils, a clinic, a designated food vendor area, a multipurpose hall and a playground.
Education stakeholders present noted that the upgrade would significantly enhance both safety and learning outcomes.
Former Area Controller Ajibola Odusanya and current Area Controller Samuel Ariyibi jointly highlighted education as a cornerstone of social advancement. They urged school authorities to establish a maintenance unit to ensure the new infrastructure remains functional and sustainable.
Headmistress Felicia Oyatoye expressed appreciation to the Service, stating that the transformation would improve morale among teachers and pupils while elevating academic standards.
The ceremony drew traditional rulers from the Ibeshe Kingdom, government representatives, community leaders and residents, underscoring the project’s broad local significance.
Sports Arena Promotes Fitness and Community Integration
Later, the Customs chief proceeded to the Western Marine Command to inaugurate the sports complex, describing it as a strategic investment in physical fitness, mental well-being and operational readiness for personnel.
He stressed that the demanding nature of Customs duties requires officers to maintain high levels of physical and psychological resilience, adding that the facility was intentionally designed for wide utilisation across commands.
“Our jobs are demanding, and we must maintain the right balance,” Adeniyi said, encouraging officers nationwide to take advantage of the arena’s amenities.
Controller Patrick Ntadi underscored the importance of community partnership in safeguarding the facility. He noted that security and environmental protection efforts cannot succeed without local collaboration, describing the arena as a shared asset belonging to both Customs personnel and residents.
The event concluded with a guided tour and sporting activities in which the Comptroller-General participated, symbolically reinforcing the Service’s twin focus on education and healthy living.
Broader Institutional Vision
Observers say the projects reflect a broader institutional shift towards people-centred public service delivery, in which security agencies extend their role beyond enforcement to social development.
Analysts also view the initiatives as part of a growing trend among government institutions to invest in grassroots infrastructure that directly improves quality of life.
With the upgraded school expected to raise educational standards and the sports arena poised to foster wellness and community interaction, the Customs Service’s latest interventions have been widely hailed as a model for impactful public-sector engagement.
