‘Customs To Collaborate Fight Against Proliferation of Small Arms’ – Adeniyi

BY EGUONO ODJEGBA

The Comptroller General of Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has expressed the readiness of his management team to collaborate with the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) in the fight against the trafficking of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

According to a statement by the Customs national Public Relations Officer, SC Abdullahi Maiwada, the Ag CGC made this known when the Coordinator of the National Center for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Maj. Gen. Abba Muhammad Dikko (rtd.) Tuesday, 5th September, 2023, paid him a courtesy visit at the Customs Headquarters, Abuja.

“This is not the first time Nigeria Customs Service has been contributing to eradicating the menace of the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, as it has, on several occasions, made seizures of such illicit substances often concealed in bags of rice and other legitimate products,” the CGC added.

Recall that the Service has, in the second week of August 2023, intercepted over 1,000 live ammunition concealed in 203 bags of foreign rice in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital.  While thanking the Centre National Coordinator for the visit with his management team, the customs boss emphasized the need to venture more into intelligence and data sharing.

“We will be looking forward to having a deeper collaboration with the centre in terms of your database. First, I wish to inform you that I am happy that your Agency is doing well.”

He also assured that the Nigeria Customs Service will do everything possible to synergize with the Agency through the secondment of more Customs Officers to the Center.

“In terms of intelligence, I believe that you’re ready for it. We also do have a formidable intelligence unit, and most of the seizures that have been credited to Customs are done through gathering credible intelligence.” He added.

In his address, the Agency Coordinator congratulated the CGC on his appointment and described the Service as a substantial pillar in pursuing illicit arms in society even as he commended the efforts made by the NCS in the area of intercepting illicit flow of arms through the Nigerian borders, noting that the effort helps in securing the country and the citizens.

“We all know that Nigeria is suffering from a myriad of insecurity-related issues of different sorts, and the key catalyst that has continued to fuel this insecurity is the availability of small arms, and without the help of Customs, we will not have a lovely and safer environment.” Dikko said.

While applauding the NCS unflinching support in gracing his Agency’s programmes, he assured that the effort if sustained, will not only help in protecting the country against the multiplication of small arms and ammunition but also in the area of generating revenue for the Federal Government.