The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has combined breast cancer awareness with free screening for its officers and stakeholders in Abuja, as part of efforts to encourage early detection of the disease.

The initiative, held at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama on 6 October 2026, also attracted a ₦50 million pledge from the Managing Director of Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Dr Jummai Umar-Ajijola, towards efforts to combat breast cancer.

The programme, organised to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was themed “Inspect, Detect, Protect” and brought together Customs officers, medical professionals and partners.

From awareness to action

Unlike awareness campaigns focused mainly on speeches and information sharing, the NCS programme ended with free breast cancer screening for participating officers and other attendees.

The programme also featured a health talk, a medical session, a survivor testimony and a question-and-answer session aimed at improving understanding of breast cancer and the importance of seeking medical attention early.

The Project Manager of the BOYA Project, Fauziya Abubakar, said the initiative had been promoting breast cancer awareness within the Customs Service for three years.

She stressed the need for continued sensitisation and regular screening, noting that early detection remained critical in tackling the disease.

“When you are not sure, always ask and always check. No one has to fight this alone.” Dr Jummai Umar-Ajijola, Trade Modernisation Project Limited

Customs: Cancer should not be a stigma

The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Information and Communication Technology and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the event.

Adebakin urged officers to pay greater attention to their health, saying education and sensitisation could help improve the chances of detecting and managing cancer early.

She said cancer should not be treated as a stigma or viewed as the end of life.

“Cancer isn’t a stigma. It is a time to give attention to those affected and give them hope again. Together, we can build a healthier society, a healthier Service, and healthier communities.”

Her comments placed the campaign within a broader message about reducing fear and encouraging people affected by cancer to seek support rather than face discrimination.

‘You must be alive before promotion’

The President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, who was Special Guest of Honour and keynote speaker, particularly urged women to make their health a priority.

She said women could become so focused on caring for their families that they overlook their own health, and encouraged officers to undertake regular self-examination and seek medical attention when necessary.

“Fellow officers, you must be alive before you get promoted. Check on yourself.”

Adeniyi also reminded male officers that breast cancer can affect men and called on them to support women in their families and communities.

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Why early detection matters

Breast cancer remains an important public health concern, making awareness campaigns particularly significant when they encourage people to move from knowing about the disease to taking practical steps towards their health.

For the Customs Service, the decision to include screening meant officers could access a health intervention alongside the awareness activities.

The ₦50 million pledge by Trade Modernisation Project Limited also introduced a financial commitment to the campaign, although the details of how the pledged funds will be deployed were not stated in the information released about the event.

A message beyond Customs

The organisers’ emphasis on screening and early detection extends beyond the Customs community, as awareness campaigns can also encourage officers to pass health information to their families and wider communities.

The event’s survivor testimony further provided a personal dimension to the campaign, complementing the medical discussions and reinforcing the message that a cancer diagnosis should not automatically be regarded as hopeless.

For participants, the central message was simple: paying attention to changes in one’s health and seeking appropriate medical advice early can be an important part of confronting breast cancer.

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Lagos State Chapter, has named Care. Organization. Public. Enlightenment (C.O.P.E) founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Ebunola Anozie, as its Iconic Woman of the Month for October, highlighting her decades-long work in breast cancer awareness and early detection.

The recognition comes during Cancer Awareness Month, with NAWOJ Lagos drawing attention not only to Anozie’s three decades of advocacy but also to her ambition to expand cancer education and outreach to 10 million women over the next decade.

The organisation said the initiative is intended to celebrate women whose work has created measurable social impact while encouraging more women to contribute to their communities.

From personal loss to cancer advocacy

Anozie moved from the financial sector into cancer advocacy after losing both parents to cancer, an experience that shaped her decision to dedicate her work to improving awareness and access to support for women.

For more than 30 years, C.O.P.E has focused on breast cancer awareness, screening, counselling and support for women.

Its work has included community campaigns, outreach programmes, support groups and volunteer networks, alongside partnerships and donations aimed at helping women navigate screening, diagnosis and treatment.

At the centre of the organisation’s message is the importance of early detection, particularly in communities where awareness and access to health information can influence when people seek medical attention.

A bigger target for the next decade

NAWOJ Lagos said Anozie is now looking beyond the milestones of C.O.P.E’s first three decades, with a stated goal of reaching 10 million women through expanded cancer education and outreach programmes in the coming 10 years.

The ambition could place greater emphasis on taking cancer awareness beyond conventional campaigns and into communities where women may have limited access to health information and screening services.

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Why the recognition matters

NAWOJ Lagos Chairperson, Jumoke Falayi-Johnson, said the Iconic Woman of the Month platform was established to recognise women whose lives and achievements can inspire younger generations.

Falayi-Johnson described Anozie as a “perfect-fit” for the recognition, citing her work in cancer advocacy and community development.

The award also puts attention on the role of civil society organisations and community-based advocates in complementing wider efforts to improve public understanding of cancer.

NAWOJ releases multimedia feature

As part of the recognition, NAWOJ Lagos has released a commemorative multimedia feature documenting Anozie’s personal journey, her cancer advocacy and the activities of C.O.P.E.

The association is encouraging members of the public, health stakeholders and potential partners to support efforts aimed at expanding cancer awareness and early-detection education.

For women and families, the broader message from the recognition is that awareness remains an important part of the fight against cancers that can have serious consequences when detected late.

What comes next

Anozie’s proposed 10-million-woman target gives her advocacy a new measure of scale after more than three decades of work.

How effectively that ambition translates into wider community education, screening access and sustained support will depend on partnerships, funding, volunteers and the ability to reach women beyond established urban networks.

For NAWOJ Lagos, however, the October recognition is also a reminder of the contribution women-led organisations can make to public health and community development.

The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) has called on Nigeria’s National Assembly to speed up the passage of the National Alcohol Control Policy Bill, arguing that the proposed law would strengthen the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)’s ongoing nationwide enforcement of the ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and small polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

The appeal comes as NAFDAC enforcement teams begin operations across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, targeting markets, motor parks, bars, retail outlets and other distribution channels to identify, seize and remove the banned products from circulation.

Why it matters

The enforcement exercise is one of Nigeria’s most significant recent efforts to reduce access to inexpensive alcoholic drinks, particularly among young people.

Public health experts have long warned that alcohol abuse contributes to road crashes, violence, non-communicable diseases, poor mental health and lost economic productivity. Advocates also argue that low-cost alcohol packaged in sachets and small bottles makes alcohol more accessible to underage consumers and vulnerable groups.

The National Alcohol Control Policy Bill seeks to regulate the production, marketing and consumption of alcohol while reducing alcohol-related harm. It also aims to strengthen measures protecting children and adolescents.

The House of Representatives passed the Bill for second reading on 7 May 2026. Sponsored by Hon. Oluwatimehin Adelegbe, it is currently progressing through the legislative process.

RDI backs NAFDAC enforcement

In a statement issued in Lagos, RDI said lawmakers have a responsibility to complement NAFDAC’s enforcement efforts by ensuring the Bill becomes law before the end of the 10th National Assembly.

RDI Executive Director Philip Jakpor praised NAFDAC’s decision to begin enforcement.

“By matching words with action, NAFDAC has demonstrated its commitment to ridding the public space of harmful alcohol products and this would in turn improve public health outcomes especially among young people that the alcohol industry targets with their products. The National Assembly must no longer delay in playing it’s role.”

Jakpor argued that legislation would provide a stronger legal framework for sustaining alcohol control measures beyond the current enforcement campaign.

Calls for broader alcohol control measures

Beyond the ongoing ban, RDI urged the Federal Government to fully implement the World Health Organization’s SAFER technical package.

The WHO initiative recommends five key measures to reduce alcohol-related harm, including tighter restrictions on alcohol availability, stronger drink-driving enforcement, improved treatment services, restrictions on alcohol advertising and sponsorship, and higher alcohol prices through taxation.

According to RDI, these measures could significantly reduce the health, social and economic costs associated with harmful alcohol consumption.

Jakpor also suggested that sustained enforcement could improve household welfare.

“The ball is now in the court of the NASS. It must escalate work on the Bill so that the health and economic benefits of reducing underage drinking, youth addiction, and rising health burdens associated with alcohol would be met in a short time.”

He added that families could increasingly prioritise spending on essentials such as food and children’s education instead of alcohol if harmful products become less accessible.

Expert perspective

Public health specialists have consistently argued that reducing the availability, affordability and promotion of alcohol is among the most effective ways to lower alcohol-related disease and premature deaths.

They also note that legislation, combined with consistent enforcement and public education, is generally more effective than enforcement alone in changing long-term consumer behaviour.

Public and industry perspective

While health advocates have welcomed stricter alcohol controls, manufacturers, distributors and retailers may face increased compliance costs and potential losses as enforcement continues.

Some industry stakeholders have previously argued that regulation should be balanced with consumer education and adequate transition periods for affected businesses.

What happens next?

Attention now shifts to the National Assembly, where lawmakers will decide whether to accelerate consideration of the Alcohol Control Bill.

If eventually passed and signed into law, the legislation would provide Nigeria with a broader legal framework for regulating alcohol production, marketing and consumption while supporting agencies such as NAFDAC in enforcing alcohol control measures.