At the Nigeria Customs Service, discipline isn’t just about uniforms and enforcement anymore. For Comptroller Samuel Olusanya Ariyibi of the Lillypond Export Command, sports activities holds every Thursday at 4 00 pm with push-ups, stretches, Long tennis, football , skipping etc.
Since assuming office few months ago, Ariyibi has made physical fitness a non-negotiable pillar of command culture, transforming what was once an optional routine into a weekly mission for all officers under his watch.
The result: sharper officers, stronger morale, and a command that’s earning praise for both operational efficiency and officer welfare.
“I tell my officers, for the brain to be active you have to keep it busy and it can not be in a tired body or a weak mind” sighted Professor Wole Soyinka as example”.
Ariyibi said it while addressing the officers today the 7th of May 2026 ,during a-fitness drill at the command’s parade ground. “Keeping fit is no longer personal. It is professional. It is duty.”
The command has also set up a mini equipped sport arena within the premises
The Controller leads the sessions personally, often matching pace with officers half his age. He credits the initiative with reducing fatigue, improving alertness during patrols, and fostering stronger teamwork across units.
“The job is physically demanding. If we are not fit, we compromise our safety and our service to the nation,” he said. “A fit officer is a confident officer. A confident officer deters crime.”
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, applauded the move, describing it as “a proactive approach to building a resilient and responsive workforce.”
For Ariyibi, the vision extends beyond fitness. “This is about instilling discipline, resilience, and pride in service.
When officers are fit, they carry themselves differently. They represent Customs with honour.”
In Customs, readiness begins with fitness.
