Strengthening Operational Efficiency Through Health

The Ogun I Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has launched a free eye care programme for its officers and men as part of efforts to improve personnel welfare and strengthen operational efficiency in border surveillance and enforcement duties.

The initiative, sponsored by the Acting Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, provided comprehensive eye examinations and prescription glasses to officers requiring corrective lenses. The medical outreach, conducted in collaboration with Vision Spring under its See to Be Safe (S2S) project, featured visual acuity screening, funduscopy to examine the retina and optic nerve, and the distribution of free prescription glasses to beneficiaries.

Declaring the programme open, Afeni stressed that good eyesight remains critical to effective border security operations, tactical enforcement, and administrative responsibilities.

Good health remains the foundational pillar of operational efficiency and officers' well-being. Our officers undergo demanding daily tasks ranging from tactical border surveillance and field enforcement to detailed physical examinations and administrative documentation. Regular eye screening is a crucial preventative measure that safeguards our officers' health while maintaining peak command efficiency.

— Oladapo Afeni, Deputy Comptroller and Acting Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Area Command

Vision as a Tool for National Security

DC Afeni noted that clear vision enhances officers' reaction time, improves night-time vigilance, and increases accuracy during border patrols and security checks. He further explained that continuous exposure to harsh environmental conditions during patrol operations places significant strain on officers' eyesight, making periodic eye examinations necessary to prevent chronic fatigue and visual impairment.

Taking proactive steps today ensures that we remain sharp, capable and ready to discharge our national mandate effectively. Protect your vision; it is your most valuable window to the world.

— Oladapo Afeni, Deputy Comptroller and Acting Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Area Command

He encouraged all officers and men of the Ogun I Area Command to prioritize their vision and participate actively in routine eye screening exercises, emphasizing that good vision is fundamental not only for career performance but for personal safety and long-term vitality.

Collaborative Preventive Care

Speaking during the programme, the Team Lead Consultant for the See to Be Safe (S2S) Project, Dr. Obioma Uchandu, said the initiative focuses on preventive eye care for Customs officers working at border formations.

The project seeks to eliminate preventable blindness, particularly among officers stationed at strategic border posts such as Idiroko, where optimal vision is essential for effective surveillance and security operations.

— Dr. Obioma Uchandu, Team Lead Consultant, See to Be Safe (S2S) Project

Some of the benefiting officers expressed appreciation to the command leadership, describing the initiative as a morale booster that would improve their health and enhance their readiness for duty. The Ogun I Area Command reaffirmed its commitment to implementing personnel welfare initiatives aimed at promoting a healthy, responsive, and productive workforce capable of effectively carrying out its border security mandate.