Hard time awaits arms smugglers, as Customs partners NCCSALW to curb proliferation of dangerous weapons

Hard time awaits arms smugglers, as Customs partners NCCSALW to curb proliferation of dangerous weapons

Obviously, hard time awaits syndicates specialised in smuggling arms, ammunition and dangerous weapons into the country through the back-door, as the Nigeria Customs Service is mapping out new strategies to curb proliferation of small arms and light weapons across Nigeria.

This fresh impetus becomes necessary to stem the tide in proliferation of small arms capable of posing a threat to national security and economic stability of the nation.

To achieve this, the Customs under the leadership of CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, is deepening collaboration with National Centre for Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

CGC Adeniyi disclosed this on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, when he received a delegation of NCCSALW, led by its National Coordinator, DIG Babatunde Kokumo (rtd), at the Service Headquarters in Abuja.

Addressing the entourage, CGC Adeniyi re-echoed his readiness to intensify surveillance and strict enforcement measures to ensure greater security and stability for all Nigerians by curbing proliferation of small arms and light weapons across the country.

Speaking further, the CGC described the appointment of retired DIG Babatunde Kokumo as the National Coordinator of NCCSALW by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu as “placing a round peg in a round hole”; and expressed willingness to strengthen their age-long alliance to promote public safety and security through advocacy, as well as effective public awareness.

The Customs Boss emphasised; “I want to believe that you brought a wealth of experience to this assignment and I have no doubt that you will have a successful tour of duty. Let me also say that Nigeria Customs Service is delighted to collaborate with the Centre.”

Lamenting on the security challenges in the West African sub-region, CGC Adeniyi intimated the National Coordinator about the Service modest contributions to ensuring proficient scrutiny of merchandise coming into the Nigerian shores, to avoid allowing them into the wrong hands.

He said, “You remember that some few days ago, we recorded a successful interception of arms and other military wares at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos. If you may recall, we also had some similar seizures before in Port Harcourt, at  Onne port. Earlier this year, we had some interceptions at the Tincan Ports with drugs.

“So there is nothing that demonstrates the power of collaborations more than what this particular case has done for us. As a Service, we are interested in the lessons we should learn from these seizures. There is need to improve our investigations not just for those who bring in small arms and light weapons, but in encountering smugglers daily.”

Earlier in his address, the National Coordinator of NCCSALW, DIG Babatunde Kokumo (rtd), appreciated the Comptroller-General and members of his management team for all forms of collaboration that his Centre enjoys from the NCS, adding, “Let me thank you for the opportunity accorded us to meet you, and I wish to let you know that we have been monitoring your activities.”

The National Coordinator further briefed the Comptroller-General, “It may interest the CGC that the Centre, being multi-agency by nature, has major government agencies, including Customs officers, working at the Centre fighting proliferation of small arms and light weapons.”

He further commended the CGC for his recent achievements of seizing arms and ammunition in the ports, which, according to him, will go a long way in controlling proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.