By Aisha Cole
Lagos, Dec. 18, 2025 (NAN) – In a strategic move that redefines corporate social responsibility (CSR) as proactive community intervention, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, has inaugurated a state-of-the-art sports facility in the Coconut Community of Apapa. Named the Wale Adeniyi Sports Arena, this initiative is designed to serve a dual purpose: unearthing athletic talent and providing a constructive alternative to crime and drug abuse for local youth.
This project transcends the traditional model of CSR as charity. Instead, it represents an investment in human capital and social infrastructure. By converting a problematic space into a community asset, the Customs Service addresses root causes of instability, positioning itself as a partner in community development rather than merely a regulatory authority.
During the facility’s test-run, Comptroller of the Western Marine Command, Mr. Patrick Ntadi, outlined the vision. “Our objective is holistic,” he stated. “We are not just building a playground. We are creating a structured ecosystem for positive engagement. When young people have a safe space to channel their energy, develop discipline through sports, and experience the camaraderie of a team, the allure of negative influences diminishes significantly.”
From ‘Ghetto’ to Gateway: A Transformational Strategy
Ntadi revealed the site’s history, noting it was formerly a ghetto and informal market notorious for harboring miscreants and drug-related activities. This transformation is a deliberate, place-based strategy. Crime prevention theory supports this approach, indicating that improving the physical environment and providing legitimate activities (a concept known as ‘Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design’ or CPTED) can reduce opportunities for offending. The arena physically reclaims the space, signaling community care and oversight, which deters criminal repurposing.
Beyond Recreation: A Framework for Talent Development
The test-run event showcased the arena’s potential as a talent incubator. A novelty football match between Customs and Maritime Workers ended in a 5–5 draw, fostering stakeholder unity. More telling was the exhibition by award-winning secondary school basketball teams, particularly the female players, whose focus and skill impressed observers.
“The discipline and promise we saw today are the raw materials for future champions,” Ntadi remarked. The Command plans to institutionalize this discovery process by organizing regular competitions with registered community teams. Free registration removes financial barriers to participation, while Customs’ oversight ensures facility maintenance and orderly management—a critical factor for long-term sustainability often missing in donor-driven projects.
The Ripple Effects of Strategic CSR
This initiative exemplifies a shift towards strategic CSR, where corporate resources are aligned with specific social outcomes that also benefit the institution. For the Customs Service, a safer, more engaged community translates to a more secure operational environment. It builds public trust and goodwill, which can enhance compliance and cooperation—key elements for border and maritime security agencies.
Ntadi commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for championing such impactful CSR programmes across commands, enabling the service to “positively impact lives beyond its core mandate.” This reflects a growing understanding that the stability and health of host communities are inextricably linked to institutional success.
Community Reception and Future Implications
The test-run attracted a diverse crowd—community members, traders, passers-by, and stakeholders—who watched and participated in football, basketball, and table tennis. This enthusiastic turnout suggests strong community buy-in, a vital ingredient for the arena’s future success.
The Wale Adeniyi Sports Arena now stands as a test case. Its success will be measured not just by trophies won, but by a reduction in local crime rates, improved school attendance, and the emergence of youth role models from the community. It presents a replicable model for how government agencies and corporations can leverage their CSR portfolios to fund interventions that tackle social vices at their source, turning problem spaces into platforms for promise.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project has been widely welcomed as a landmark intervention in community development. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng).
