BUA Group Donates N500Million to Nigerian Customs to Fight Smuggling

By DAPO OLAWUNI

Leading Nigerian Businessman, Industrialist, and Philanthropist, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Chairman of BUA Group has donated a N500Million grant to the Nigeria Customs Service in order to boost it’s fight against snuggling in Nigeria.

The Managing Director of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh along with his management team presented the cheque to the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, Col Hameed Ali (Rtd) during a visit to the customs headquarters Abuja.

DAILY TREND reports that in 2022, the BUA Group boss had through his foundation, The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) during a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari announced the donation of a N10billion Nigeria Security Support Fund from ASR Africa towards the provision of some security equipment, medical and other supplies, upgrade of health facilities and other infrastructure.

While presenting the N500million grant, Dr Udoh appreciated the Comptroller General, Col Hameed Ali (Rtd) along with his management team and presented them with a certificate of award of the N500million allocation in support of security agencies which includes the Nigeria Customs Service.

Speaking he said “In the middle of last year, Alhaji Rabiu made a donation of N10billion to support security agencies and the armed forces. During the allocation of this fund, he graciously allocated the sum of N500million to the Nigeria Customs Service, this is in recognition of the amazing and difficult job you are doing.

“We know that it is difficult to achieve any kind of development without an environment that is secure and safe, we also know the strategic importance of the Nigeria Customs Service in protecting our economic security as part of our human security”

While responding, the Customs boss, Col Ali appreciated the Managing Director as well as Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu for their support. He also highlighted that without security, there can be no room for meaningful development in the country.

The Customs boss said “Abdul Samad has done one thing that most people failed to do, this is Corporate Social Responsibility, especially putting money where money is worth putting, whichw is getting the security agencies well equipped and astute to perform their responsibility.

“As we all know, what we need in Nigeria is first and foremost, Security, without security, no matter what we intend to do, we would not be able to achieve it. So, the fundamental thing is that we must have a secured nation to be able to aspire for development, there cannot be any development under an unsecured environment”