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| BUA Foundation Donates N500m Hospital to Nigerian Customs |
Business mogul and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has initiated the construction of a 30-bed hospital worth N500 million at the Nigerian Customs Service's Zone-D Headquarters in Bauchi.
During the groundbreaking ceremony held at the Nigeria Customs Barracks on Monday, Dr. Ubon Udoh, Managing Director and CEO of the Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR) Initiative for Africa, reaffirmed the Chairman's commitment to fulfilling pledges made to security agencies across Nigeria.
Udoh explained that ASR Africa has engaged with all beneficiaries of the security grant and is on track to implement all projects selected by the armed forces and security agencies. He added, “This state-of-the-art medical facility in Bauchi State is valued at N500 million.”
Udoh expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Nigerian Customs Service for partnering with ASR Africa on the project, noting that the groundbreaking followed the presentation of letters of award to Nigeria’s security agencies in December 2022.
In response, Comptroller of Nigeria Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, thanked the Chairman of ASR Africa for the grant awarded to the agency. He highlighted that this is the first significant donation of its kind to the Nigeria Customs Service from any organization.
“We are indeed very grateful to be the proud recipients of this particular project, which we hope will enhance the capacity and welfare of our personnel and the host community,” he said.
Adeniyi emphasized the clear mandate of the Nigerian Customs Service, which includes generating revenue for the country, controlling and managing smuggling, and facilitating trade.
“These are significant responsibilities to be discharged by the officers of the Nigeria Customs Service. For the effective delivery of this mandate, we must look after the welfare of our officers and be concerned about the well-being of their families. We also need to consider the needs of the communities where we operate. This is why the Nigeria Customs Service has implemented a robust welfare program to cater to our officers' needs.”
“Under the current projects, the Nigeria Customs Service is obligated to establish several medical facilities in all our zonal headquarters. We have ongoing projects in Zone-A in Lagos, Kaduna, and Port Harcourt, and we are pleased to have a reputable partner working with us to deliver a world-class 30-bed hospital here in Zone-D Bauchi.”
“We also recognize that your initiatives extend beyond the Nigerian Customs Service to other security agencies. This is what we call a real CSR obligation. On behalf of all other security agencies of the government, we express our gratitude to the Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative for these projects.”
During his visit to the former Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in December 2022, Rabiu announced a grant of N10 billion to the Nigerian armed forces and security agencies. This grant aims to support security agencies in effectively and efficiently fulfilling their mandate to the Nigerian people.
Other beneficiaries include the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the Nigerian Correctional Service.
