The Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), has expressed commitment to galvanising efforts to provide housing for personnel of the Nigeria Customs Officers (NCS) deployed to remote border areas across the country.
The President of the association, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, made the commitment during the relaunch of the association with theme: “COWA 2.0: Shared Values, Integrated Community’ in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that investiture of patrons and funds raising was also held for the association during the event.
Adeniyi said that the move was to ensure that the officers deployed in remote areas were provided with a conducive environment to discharge their duties diligently.
She added that the children of the personnel also lack access to decent and affordable schools in such communities.
“ We are convinced that efforts and initiatives by well-meaning Nigerians to support the government in providing decent accommodation for customs officers and their families in remote areas.
“Will go a long way to boost the morale of these officers and in enhancing the fight against smuggling.
“ COWA plans to explore ways of supporting these categories of officers and their families in their areas of primary assignment.
“We can no longer close our eyes to see customs officers becoming tenants of smugglers in border communities ,” she said.
She said that the association would also establish primary and secondary schools across major border communities and cities the country.
She said the association would also launch a campaign against drug abuse in its barracks and other neighboring communities as part of its contribution to mitigate the scourge amongst youths.
According to her, COWA through its activities and projects, would support the indigents in the society, through improving their social and economic conditions.
She explained that the move would involve providing education, food, health services, shelter, employment and support services to 100, 000 people in 2024, emphasising that the empowerment would have multiplier effects in the society.
She said that the association would establish an ultra-modern skills acquisition center and empower 1200 of its members on various skills in 2024.
She urged guests at the event and other well-meaning Nigerians to help the association realise the sum of N500 million to implement its various projects.
Speaking at the event, First Lady, Sen. Remi Tinubu commended COWA’s president for reviving the association, which had been in comatose since 2015 after its establishment in 2009.
Tinubu’s speech was delivered by Mrs Ogogoh Musa, the President of Defence and Police Affairs Wives’ Association(DEPOWA).
She said that for a strong, integrated community, members have key roles to play in upholding good values in the society, especially having compassion to support the disadvantaged.
She urged members of COWA to be a support system of their husbands to help them in their duties.
In his remarks, the Comptroller General(C-G) of NCS, Adewale Adeniyi, commended COWA for their efforts toward improving the welfare of wives and children of customs personnel, particularly the widows.
He pledged to support the association in its activities and urged them to sustain their good work.
Among those invested as patrons were the C-G of Customs,Adewale Adeniyi; Chairman SIFAX Group,Dr Taiwo Afolabi; and the Chief Executive Officer of ENL consortium, Dr Vicky Haastrup.
Other dignitaries at the event included moguls of the trade industry and sister associations of wives of military and paramilitary officers.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports COWA was established to promote and support the welfare of the wives of customs officers and to establish schools and skill acquisition centers, amongst other objectives.
COWA also promotes activities in support of the federal government’s poverty eradication programme, as well as aims to reduce Infant and maternal mortality.
