Maritime Security: Navy Chief Wants Joint Patrol With Customs

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Dele Ezeoba, on Tuesday called for joint patrol with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to secure the nation’s maritime borders.
Ezeoba made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, in his office in Abuja.
“It is my belief that in the nearest future we will be able to extend our level of partnership by exercising joint patrols as appropriate within a clearly defined operational command and control structure,'' he said.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Dele Ezeoba, on Tuesday called for joint patrol with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to secure the nation’s maritime borders.
Ezeoba made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, in his office in Abuja.
“It is my belief that in the nearest future we will be able to extend our level of partnership by exercising joint patrols as appropriate within a clearly defined operational command and control structure,'' he said.
Ezeoba said the Nigerian Navy was constitutionally required to assist the NCS in the enforcement of customs laws and regulations.
He added that within the context of the emerging challenges, the two organisations needed to “strike a chord of strategic partnership'' to help discharge their duties effectively.
The naval chief said it was common knowledge that security agencies tend to exercise authority “within their comfort zone.''
He, however, cautioned that such
practice did not augur well for synergy of efforts, and requested for training of naval officers on items on the import prohibition list under the Nigeria customs and excise law.
The training, he noted, would afford naval officers on patrol on the high seas to “know what to look out for, in what quantum and what defines other law infringements.''
Ezeoba, who commended Dikko for his ongoing reforms and transformation of the NCS, said the Navy had a lot to learn from his experience.
Earlier, Dikko had pledged that the customs would continue to work closely with the navy, particularly in the area of operations and training.
He said that both security agencies had enjoyed very “cordial and good relationship''.
“In most cases where we have had difficulties (in the waters) we have always called on the Navy for assistance.
“Most of the seizures that were made in Calabar, Port Harcourt and Lagos were made with the assistance of the Nigeria Navy,'' he said.
Dikko described Ezeoba’s visit as historic, saying that it was the “first time'' a serving naval chief had paid a working visit to the customs headquarters.