By Chinelo Obogo
The Murtala Mohammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service was bustling late Tuesday afternoon as the Comptroller-General of Customs visited the Command to inaugurate the newly built Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Sports Arena within the facility.
The Customs Area Comptroller of the Command, Comptroller Michael Awe, while delivering an opening speech at the ceremony, told the audience that the project was proposed to the Customs Headquarters, but after the rejection of the initial proposal, another one was submitted, which was eventually approved.
He said, “This sporting facility will serve as a vital tool for recreation. The building of this facility is a demonstration of the profound ways that public/private partnership can be achieved to foster growth, trust, and more possibilities. Greatness is not achieved in isolation, as success is achieved through cooperation.”
He expressed gratitude to the CG for his support in granting the approval for the building of the sporting facility. Comptroller Awe also thanked other agencies, stakeholders and the media for always sticking with accurate reportage of the Command’s events.
While speaking, Adeniyi said that the occasion gave him the opportunity to reference one of his duties as CG. He noted that when he was to make postings to fill in CAC positions at different commands, he looked at records of performances of officers at the promotion examinations and was not hesitant to post Comptroller Awe to the airport command, as he was one of the top three in their examination.
While opening the sporting arena, the CG said, “I wish that everyone will use this sporting facility to improve and sustain his/her healthy living.”
The projects commissioned on the day included the renovated guard of honour facility, the building of an all-in-one lawn tennis, basketball, badminton, and table tennis court, and an equipped physiotherapy center.