The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Hospital, donated by the Abdul Samad Rabiu Initiative (ASR Africa), has performed over 300 minor and major surgeries on residents of Bauchi State between February 17 and early June 2026. This was disclosed by the Chief Medical Director and Zonal Medical Officer of NCS, Zone D, Bauchi, Sanusi Rimi Garba, when he received a team of health journalists from the Journalists for Public Health and Development Initiative (J4PD) at his office in Bauchi.
Rimi stated that the facility, donated by ASR Africa Initiative, was launched in February to serve the general public. He noted that the Controller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, instructed that all services and consumables be subsidized by 50 percent. Our correspondent observed that patients are charged N500 as a consultation fee, while medications are provided at a discounted rate of 50 percent. The facility is equipped with modern technology and machines that perform diagnosis within a limited time, as well as well-equipped surgical theaters with sophisticated equipment.
Rimi added that many residents initially believed the facility was exclusively for NCS personnel until a series of community outreach programs informed them otherwise. “I can tell you that within the time we took off in mid-February and now, we have performed not less than 300 major and minor surgeries in this hospital. All of these were done successfully by our own medical team. We offer antenatal care and delivery; we have our well-equipped and standard facilities to do all those things,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of J4PD, Elizabeth Kah, lauded the Customs for establishing the hospital, highlighting its proximity to underserved communities such as Yelwa, Gwalameji, and Rafin Zurfi, which lack secondary and tertiary healthcare services. Kah emphasized that public health issues require adequate attention to promote a healthy society, as public health encompasses every aspect of life. She stated that her organization is ready to collaborate with the facility in awareness creation, advocacy, and provision of effective health services to Bauchi citizens.
Also, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Umar Sa’idu, commended NCS for establishing the hospital, which he said would complement the government’s efforts to provide accessible healthcare services to the people.
