The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has called for closer collaboration with the Borno Emirate Council, to curb smuggling and enhance food security in the country.
Mr Joseph Adelahe, the Acting Controller, Federal Operations Unit, Zone D, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn-Umar El-Kanemi, on Tuesday in Maiduguri.
He said that such synergy between the Service and traditional institutions was imperative to stem hike in the price of food items occasioned by illicit hoarding and export of essential commodities.
The visit, he said, was part of the Comptroller General of Customs policy thrust on consolidation, collaboration and innovation.
According to him, food security is the business of every patriotic citizen, and solicited the support of all stakeholders and members of the public to address food insecurity.
Adelaja stressed the need for effective synergy with the traditional institutions in the area of intelligence sharing, to enhance food security for the general wellbeing of the citizens.
“This is a critical period of our national life, and all hands must be on deck to support the government because we cannot afford to get it wrong at this point in time of our national history,” he said.
Responding, El-Kanemi pledged support to the Service to enable it to achieve its mandate.
He described prayer and prompt information sharing with the security agencies as panacea to security challenges in the country.
