In a landmark effort to enhance border management and regional security, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has launched the first-ever WCO Expert Master Trainer Programme on Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) in West Africa.
The training programme, which kicked-off on June 2, 2025, in Abuja, brings together Customs officers from across the region for an intensive week-long session aimed at building technical capacity in geospatial technologies. Participants will be trained to apply these tools in mapping, analysing, and monitoring border activities more effectively.
Declaring the programme open, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, underscored the critical role of advanced technology in securing borders and curbing transnational crimes such as smuggling and human trafficking.
“This initiative marks the culmination of nearly 10 years of collaboration, innovation, and capacity-building,” Adeniyi said. “Our partnership with the WCO and JICA has positioned Nigeria as a regional leader in GEOINT capability, and this milestone brings both recognition and responsibility.”
He added that the growing complexity of global trade and the evolving tactics of criminal networks require Customs administrations to adopt more sophisticated approaches to border security.
“As trade expands and criminal ingenuity increases, so must our response mechanisms. This training ensures we stay ahead in securing our borders and supply chains,” he said.
WCO representative, Motohiro Fujimitsu, described the programme as a “game-changer” for managing the challenges of West Africa’s fragile borderlands. JICA’s Chief Representative, Yuzurio Susumu, reaffirmed Japan’s support for Nigeria and its neighbours in building resilient, modern Customs operations through geospatial intelligence.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Assistant Comptroller-General Dera Nnadi of the Strategic Research and Policy Department encouraged participants to apply the knowledge gained to enhance the security and efficiency of their respective borders.
