The Abdul Samad Rabiu (ASR) Initiative for Africa said it spent $100 million every year to intervene in education, health, and social development.
The Initiative’s managing director, Dr. Udon Uboh, said at the groundbreaking ceremony of Abdul Samad Rabiu Nigeria Custom Service 30-bed Hospital in Bauchi yesterday that ASR is a man of vision and passion.
He said, “ASR understands that it is impossible to build the Nigeria of our dreams if we don’t build the partnership. Hence, the partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is an example of a strategic partnership that can move Nigeria forward.
“As part of the Africa intervention on social development, we have what we call the security sector of our grant.”
He explained that the project also reflects the kind of leadership the Customs is fortunate to have when the leadership decided to build the hospital, putting the welfare of men, women, officers, and families of the Nigeria Customs Service first.
“Other ongoing projects with other security agencies are the Health Centre for N2 Billion with the Nigerian Air Force, a special hospital for the Nigerian Navy for N2 billion, a N4. 5 billion hospital for the Nigeria Police, and N1 billion for equipment.
“We are currently working on projects with the Nigerian Immigration, Nigerian Prison Service, Eye City Centre with the DSS, and many projects in line which we are implementing under the ASR $10 billion grant.”
Speaking earlier, the comptroller-general of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, said that with the project, the service would enhance the capacity and welfare of the personnel and the community.
Adeniyi explained that the mandate of the service is very clear and that its personnel were dispersed all over the country for the discharge of the key mandate, which is generating revenue for the country, among others.