The Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) FOU ‘A’ has taken the lead in advancing environmental sustainability with the organisation of a one-day environmental education workshop and the flag-off of a tree planting exercise at the Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’ headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos.
The programme, held on February 26, 2026 at Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, was themed “Green Barracks, Green Borders: Advancing Environmental Stewardship for a Carbon-Responsible Future,” and drew members of the Nigeria Customs Service community, government representatives, and environmental stakeholders.
Delivering the address on behalf of the National President, Kikelomo Adeniyi, the State Chairperson of COWA, Mrs. Clara Nkechi Aliyu, described the workshop as a strategic movement toward building environmentally responsible barracks and border communities.
Mrs. Aliyu highlighted pressing environmental challenges including flooding, desertification, coastal erosion, plastic waste, heat stress, and drainage blockages. She explained that COWA is responding with structured, grassroots driven solutions designed to promote sustainable living within barracks and surrounding communities. She outlined key commitments such as the institutionalisation of a Monthly Clean Barracks Day, quarterly tree planting targets, formation of Youth Eco-Clubs, pilot waste separation programmes, and partnerships with local waste management agencies.
She called for collaboration with the State Ministry of Environment, environmental NGOs, waste management authorities, solar and recycling firms, and youth organisations, stressing that COWA remains open to partnerships that will strengthen the Green Borders vision. She concluded by inviting participants to take the Green Barracks Pledge as a symbol of unity and shared responsibility.
In his remarks, the Controller of FOU Zone ‘A’, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, said the theme aligns with the core mandate of the Customs Service as gatekeepers of the nation’s borders. He noted that the Service plays a critical role in enforcing environmental regulations, curbing the illegal trade in hazardous goods, and promoting sustainable practices.
According to him, initiatives such as the Green Customs concept underscore the importance of capacity building, including the active involvement of customs officers’ wives as partners in advancing environmental sustainability. He commended COWA for conceptualising the “Green Barracks” initiative aimed at transforming workplaces and residential areas into models of environmental responsibility.
The Comptroller also highlighted the importance of “Green Borders” in safeguarding the country against environmental threats such as deforestation through illegal tree felling, wildlife trafficking through poaching, indiscriminate waste dumping, and the proliferation of e-waste and ozone-depleting substances.
He expressed optimism that the workshop would equip participants with knowledge on climate change, the benefits of tree planting for carbon absorption, and the principles of the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.
The event concluded with the ceremonial planting of trees within the Unit’s premises, symbolising the Service’s renewed commitment to promoting a sustainable and environmentally secure Nigeria.
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