National Security : Customs to join forces with Police in protecting economic ambience

National Security :
Customs to join forces with Police in protecting economic ambience

…As CGC Adeniyi holds strategic meeting with Police Boss

Fresh facts emerged that the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), under the leadership of CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, is ready to join forces with Nigeria Police in protecting the nation’s economic ambience from nefarious activities of criminal elements.

This was evident in the working visit of CGC Adeniyi to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The working visit, which was also a strategic meeting focused on the importance of safeguarding national security for greater economic prosperity, in tandem with the vision of the Federal Government.

CGC Adeniyi, who has been working tirelessly since he assumed office, stressed the urgent need for inter-agency collaboration to fast-track sustainable working relationships between Customs and Nigeria Police, in order to ensure adequate security of lives and properties in the country.

Speaking further, CGC Adeniyi congratulated the IGP on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. He expressed the commitment of NCS to join forces with the Police in tackling the challenges of insecurity in Nigerian economic environment.

He assured the Police Boss of Customs willingness to learn more from Nigeria Police in areas of investigation and other operations through coordinated capacity-building programmes.

He pointed out :  “Criminal activities are inter-connected, thus a need for the two security agencies to collaborate to mitigate the menace of smuggling, which will help the Service to generate revenue for the nation. I will therefore request to build a strong relationship between Customs and Police.

“The major issues bothering the two organisations can be mitigated through intelligence sharing, to help achieve a common goal in the fight against criminalities”.

He also briefed the IGP on the proliferation of check-points from Mile -2 to Seme Border, saying that agencies responsible need to look at the possibility of rationalising them.
He said the Service is considering using geospatial intelligence to monitor the borders.

The CGC expressed the readiness of Customs to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria Police for a greater synergy.

Responding, the Police Boss described the CGC’s visit to the Force Headquarters as timely, affirming his readiness to unanimously establish a solid working bond with Customs.

The IGP, who congratulated the CGC on his appointment, appreciated his vibrant steps of re-branding the Service, adding that; “your bold steps in uplifting the organisation are well recognised by Nigerians.  You will surely succeed.

“You are coming at a time that the Nigeria Police is committed to having strong collaboration with other security agencies. I want to inform you that we also share the vision of having a strong platform where all agencies will interact, share intelligence and leverage on our expertise in various ways.

“The best time to actualise the synergy is now. Nigeria Police is determined to form a system that appropriately responds to the dynamics of criminalities in the Country.”

Corroborating the CGC’s call on the state of Mile 2 – Seme Check-points, the IGP proposed the need to constitute a joint tour of the area. “I will also be paying unscheduled visits to Mile 2-Seme axis”, he said.