Customs, NFIU Ratifies Border Security Deal

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, recently played host to the delegation of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) led by its Director General, Mrs. Hafsat Bakari, at the Service’s Headquarters in Abuja, ained at exploring closer ties in the service of fatherland.

According to a statement made available to our reporter by the Customs National Public Relations Officer, CSCAbdullahi Maiwada, the meeting was in respect of the sealing of a partnership resolution between both organizations aimed at enhancing border security.

The statement reads, “CGC Adeniyi’s meeting with DG Bakari centred around sealing a strong partnership that will enable the two agencies to take measures of enhancing border security through intensifying onslaught against smugglers and money launderers and other terrorism financing activities.”

The CGC, while addressing the NFIU officials, congratulated DG Bakari for her appointment and expressed Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to support NFIU by way of establishing a joint team that will be tasked to address some pressing issues.

“I want to wish you a successful tenure. I see, through your passion, your commitment to Project Nigeria, and I also see the collaborative spirit that you brought on board. These are all things that I share also because I believe that we can draw strength from each other, assist ourselves, and get things done.

“We need to form an internal team that will be drawn up from our side to review those outstanding issues so that we begin to see, in a determined effort, what we can do,” he added.

Speaking earlier, the NFIU Director General, Hafsat Bakari, applauded the NCS’s resilience to safeguarding Nigerian borders, particularly in combating smuggling activities.

Emphasising the importance of information sharing, Mrs. Bakari highlighted that her visit to the Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service is to establish a cordial relationship with the service in intelligence sharing.

“We recognise the vital role of the NCS in protecting Nigeria’s borders, preventing the smuggling of illicit goods, but also in ensuring that those who import goods into our country pay the appropriate fees and levies that are due to the federal government.”

She averred that the ultimate goal of the NFIU was to ensure the safety and prosperity of Nigeria, adding:

“We want to make sure that we have efficient systems processes and technologies in place to identify the smuggling of currency and other high-value items.”