In a move to save lives on the front lines, the Nigeria Customs Service launched a first aid training program for officers at the Apapa Command. The session comes amid a sobering reminder: more than 60 officers have died in 2025, with many deaths attributed to delays in urgent medical response and a lack of basic life-saving skills.

On Monday, November 24, 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service Medical Corps kicked off a first aid training session for officers at the Apapa Command. The training aims to equip officers with essential life-saving skills, such as CPR, wound management, burns care, and basic treatment of bone and joint injuries., The event was opened by Compt Emmanuel Oshoba, the Customs Area Controller for Apapa Command, who stressed the critical importance of first aid knowledge in a paramilitary context where medical help may be geographically distant.

Why this matters

• The training addresses a gap in immediate response. Oshoba noted that, in many situations, nearby officers or first responders may be the first medical contact before doctors can arrive.
• First aid skills can reduce the severity of injuries, control bleeding, relieve pain, and stabilise someone until professional care is available.
• The session also underscored a broader policy push across formations, following remarks by the Customs Comptroller-General at a recent summit, mandating health training for staff.

• According to Compt AS Aku, Team Lead and Zonal Medical Officer in Zone B, the service had already lost more than 62 officers from January to late October 2025. He added that figures do not yet include losses over the previous weekend, highlighting the ongoing risk faced by officers in the field.

• Compt Oshoba urged both experienced trainers and beginners to engage fully in the practical portions of the course, emphasising that even seasoned personnel could benefit from refreshing their skills.
• Compt Aku described the situation as “very sad” and called for a collective commitment to improving life-saving capabilities across the force.

What was taught

• The officers were trained in basic CPR, management of open injuries, burns care, and initial handling of bone and joint injuries.
• The program appears designed to be practical and hands-on, with demonstrations and group drills to build confidence in applying the skills during real emergencies.

• This initiative reflects a broader priority: preparing frontline officers to respond effectively when medical help is delayed or unavailable.
• The Apapa session serves as a model for other commands, aligning with higher-level directives to place health training at the core of officer readiness.
• The overarching takeaway is clear: equipping officers with basic emergency care skills can save lives, reduce the severity of injuries, and buy time for professional medical intervention.

While the statistics are grim, the introduction of widespread first aid training represents a practical, life-saving investment in officers’ safety. If repeated across all formations, these skills could change outcomes in many crises on duty, road, or during transit. The focus now should be on expanding access to training, ensuring ongoing practice, and measuring the impact in the months ahead.