In a bid to reinforce security and combat multiplying threats along the nation’s waterways, The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Maritime Police Command are deepening collaboration and intelligence sharing.
This is according to a statement issued on Monday by Chief Superintendent of Customs, Zonal Public Relations Officer, Zone ‘A’, Edeminam Akininyene.
Akininyene said the agreement was reached when the Maritime Police Command led by Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Festus Oko, visited the Customs Zonal Headquarters in Lagos.
He said that AIG Festus Oko’s visit to Zone ‘A’ aimed at deepening inter-agency collaboration.
Akininyene quoted Oko as saying that the renewed partnership accented a shared vision for a resilient and collaborative security aimed at tackling crimes on the country’s waterways.
“I commend the Nigeria Customs Service for its unwavering dedication, professionalism in trade facilitation and protection of lives.
“The service’s role in revenue collection and trade facilitation remain pivotal to the country’s socio-economic growth and stability,” Oko was quoted as saying.
The NCS spokesman noted that the Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs (ACG), Mohammed Babandede, commended the AIG of Police, Maritime Command and his team for their commitment to legitimate service delivery.
He quoted Babandede as saying that the service remained a partner in progress for balancing trade facilitation with the enforcement of fiscal policies.
He reiterated that the NCS would not allow procedural overlap to hinder the nation’s economic rebirth.
Akininyene said that both security agencies recommitted to real-time intelligence sharing and joint protocols to prevent duplication of inspections.
He said that the two agencies collaborative framework was to ensure that security measures complemented rather than complicated trade facilitation.
In a related development, the police spokesman said that the Western Zonal Coordinator, Association of Nigeria Licensed Custom Agents, (ANLCA), Femi Anifowose, also visited the Zone ‘A’ Headquarters to strengthen trade facilitation.
Akininyene said that Anifowose congratulated the ACG, Mohammed Babandede on his appointment as the Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, Lagos, describing it as a recognition of his service towards a better Nigeria.
Anifowose mentioned critical challenges contributing to bottlenecks leading to high demurrage fees and exacerbating supply chain disruption.
The ACG Customs, Mohammed Babandede, was quoted as pledging stronger collaboration with ANLCA -Western Zone to improve revenue generation and enhance national security.
He said synergy between customs and clearing agents would help eliminate trade bottlenecks, and support President Bola Tinubu’s National Single Window (NSW) initiative.
He added that synergy would also propel Nigeria toward a $1 trillion economy by 2026.
“This visit is a testament to our shared resolve to implore greater collaboration.
“We are not just reducing bottlenecks but we are unlocking Nigeria’s potential for greater growth, job abundance and a prosperous future for all,” Babandede was quoted as saying.
