Hope was rekindled at the Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre, Lagos, as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) commissioned a newly constructed four-classroom block to enhance educational opportunities for inmates.
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, inaugurated the facility on Wednesday, 11 February 2026. The project, executed by the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal (KLT) Command under the Customs Cares Initiative, is aimed at strengthening access to education and supporting the reintegration of inmates into society.
Speaking at the ceremony, Adeniyi reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to people-centred interventions aligned with national development priorities and global best practices.
“The Nigeria Customs Service, through the Customs Cares Initiative, will continue to undertake interventions inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in education, health, provision of water and support for literacy. These outcomes are driving our efforts, and this project aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at improving lives and promoting sustainable national development,” he said.
The CGC commended the initiator of the project, Assistant Comptroller-General (ACG) Joy Edeldouk, for her vision and dedication in ensuring its successful delivery.
In his remarks, the Comptroller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, represented by Deputy Comptroller-General of Corrections, Amos Kupan, described the facility as a significant boost to the centre’s rehabilitation mandate.
“This laudable intervention clearly demonstrates the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and its support for the rehabilitation objectives of the Nigerian Correctional Service,” Kupan said. “We deeply appreciate this partnership, which reflects the shared responsibilities of government institutions in nation-building and human capital development.”
He noted that the new classroom block would enhance the learning environment and strengthen ongoing educational and vocational training programmes within the correctional facility.
ACG Edeldouk, alongside the Acting Customs Area Controller of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal, DC Bolaji Adigun, described the project as a symbol of renewed hope, emphasising that education remains a vital tool for personal transformation and successful reintegration.
Stakeholders at the event applauded the initiative, commending the Customs Service for extending its impact beyond statutory responsibilities to promote social development and uphold human dignity.
The ceremony concluded with the official commissioning of the classroom block by the Comptroller-General of Customs, followed by a guided tour of the facility.
