Adewale Adeniyi, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, has announced the need for collaboration to win the war against smuggling and drug trafficking.

The CG while speaking on Wednesday during a visit to Ogun 11 area command in Abeokuta, states that the service will make use of technology to tackle smuggling.

“One of my cardinal programmes anchors on collaboration, I have always believed that we can do a lot through collaboration. A good instance is the ongoing clampdown on drugs in our ports. The three major agencies that are involved in the war against drugs are the Customs, NAFDAC and the NDLEA. I discovered that the more we worked together closely, the more we got results. When the Customs declared a state of emergency against illicit drugs importation into the country, what I did was to value the support of NAFDAC and NDLEA. And since then, we have received regular Intelligence briefings from them. We have conducted joint operations leading to seizures of over 200 containers,” he said.

Adeniyi also emphasized the need or unity and efficiency in all commands across the country.

“We did not stop at seizing these containers. But we also came together under the office of the National Security Adviser to destroy these drugs. This will ensure that they didn’t find their way back into our society or fall into the wrong hands. We have a robust relationship with border countries. I have equally been to the Republic of Benin to meet with my colleague over there. Since then we have had opportunities to work together on a number of issues. They have always been forthcoming in providing the platform, we exchange information, we exchange intelligence,” he explained

While explaining steps taken by the service to combat smuggling, the CG also commended the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun for making the state open to industrial investments.

“What we are doing currently is to have a Joint task force for the processing of goods that are coming in transit to Nigeria. So, we are going to deploy technology to manage transportation between the two countries. We have already developed it, we are only piloting it now in Seme-Krake border. By the time we finish the piloting, once it is successful, we are going to deploy it along the borders. It will help us to reduce smuggling,” he said.

pm news