The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, has stressed the need for strong collaboration with all stakeholders, including the security agencies and members of the community, to tackle the challenge of smuggling and illicit drugs importation.

Adeniyi stated that the Nigeria Customs Service is also deploying technology to tackle smuggling and manage goods in transit from the Republic of Benin to Nigeria.

The CG disclosed this on Wednesday during a working visit to the Ogun 11 Area Command in Abeokuta.

He explained that one of his cardinal programmes when he assumed office is anchored on strong collaboration with all the stakeholders to fight all sorts of economic sabotage to a standstill.

Adeniyi disclosed that the breakthrough being recorded in the fight against drugs in the country is part of the success story of his administration’s pursuit of collaboration with other security agencies and members of the public.

He explained that “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, and we have conducted joint operations leading to seizures of over 200 containers.

“We did not stop at seizing these containers, we also came together under the office of the National Security Adviser to destroy these drugs to ensure that they didn’t find their way back into our society or fall into the wrong hands”.

Adeniyi said that the same template is being implemented by all the commands across the country, wherein they are all also collaborating with the members of the communities to harness relevant intelligence, saying that this has been of great help to combat illicit activities around the country’s borders.

He said that the NCS is also deploying technology to tackle smuggling and manage goods in transit from the Republic of Benin to Nigeria.

The CG noted that the technology had already been developed and was already being piloted in the Seme-Krake border (Nigeria/Benin Republic).

He stated that once the piloting was successful, the technology would be deployed along the borders, saying it would help reduce smuggling drastically.

Adeniyi disclosed that “We have a robust relationship with border countries. I have equally been to the Republic of Benin to meet with my colleague over there, and 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.

“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 commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for repositioning the state for industrial development, assuring that the customs would continue to remain a partner in the strive for economic prosperity.

Speaking during the visit, the Controller, Ogun 11 Area Command, Bisi Alade, disclosed that the command had generated over N15 billion revenue in the first quarter of 2025.

Alade attributed the success recorded in the command to the support and encouragement of the Comptroller-General as well as the dedication of the officers of the command.

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