Ogun I Customs Prioritises Officers’ Vision to Strengthen Border Operations
By Chinonye Anyatonwu
As part of ongoing initiatives to prioritize personnel health and enhance operational efficiency, the Ag. Customs Area Controller, Ogun I Command, Deputy Comptroller
Oladapo Afeni, has sponsored a comprehensive free eye care programme for officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service serving in the command.
The initiative, organised in collaboration with VisionSpring under its See to Be Safe (S2S) project, provided officers with professional eye examinations, including visual acuity screening and funduscopy, as well as free prescription glasses for personnel diagnosed with vision challenges.
Speaking at the opening of the programme, Deputy Comptroller Afeni underscored the importance of healthy vision to the successful execution of Customs duties, noting that officers rely heavily on sharp eyesight for border surveillance, tactical enforcement, cargo inspections and administrative responsibilities.
According to him, maintaining good eye health is essential to improving reaction time, enhancing night-time vigilance and ensuring precision during patrols and security checks along Nigeria’s borders.
“Good health remains the foundation of operational efficiency and officers’ well-being. Our personnel face demanding assignments daily, often under harsh environmental conditions that place considerable strain on their eyesight. Regular eye examinations help detect vision problems early, prevent chronic eye fatigue and ensure officers remain fit for duty,” he said.
Afeni encouraged officers to make routine eye screening a personal priority, stressing that good vision contributes not only to career performance but also to personal safety, family life and long-term well-being.
“Taking proactive steps today ensures we remain alert, capable and prepared to effectively discharge our national responsibility. Protect your vision—it remains your most valuable window to the world,” he added.
Earlier, the Team Lead Consultant for the See to Be Safe (S2S) project, Dr. Obioma Uchandu, explained that the programme is designed to promote preventive eye care among Customs officers and reduce cases of avoidable blindness, particularly among frontline personnel deployed to strategic border posts such as Idiroko.
Officers who benefited from the exercise expressed appreciation to the command leadership, describing the initiative as a timely intervention that has boosted morale, improved confidence and reinforced their readiness for operational duties.
The Ogun I Area Command reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining staff welfare programmes that promote the health, resilience and effectiveness of its workforce while supporting the Nigeria Customs Service’s mandate of securing the nation’s borders.
