Cooperation between security agencies, Customs, Police on same page

By Abiodun OBA

The Nigeria Customs service and the Nigeria Police Force are in tandem with the idea of having a strong platform where all security agencies will interact, share intelligence and leverage on different expertise.

This position was made known during a courtesy visit of the Acting Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi to the Ag. Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The duo of Adeniyi and Egbetokun committed to carrying out a joint inspection of the Mile2-Badagry-Seme Border access roads with a view of dismantling illegal checkpoints along the corridor.

The customs boss sought inter-agencies’ cooperation and collaboration to fast-track sustainable working relationships between the Nigeria Customs Service and Nigeria Police Force to ensure adequate security of lives and properties in the country.

Adebiyi congratulated the IGP on his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and further expressed the commitment of NCS to collaborate and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Police Force in the areas of investigation and other operations through coordinated capacity-building programs.

“Criminal activities are inter-connected, thus a need for the two security agencies to collaborate to mitigate the menace of smuggling, which will help the Nigeria Customs Service to generate revenue for the nation. I will therefore request to build a strong relationship between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Police Force.” The CGC said.

According to him, the major challenges confronting the two agencies could be mitigated through the sharing of intelligence to help achieve a common goal in the fight against criminals.

CGC Adeniyi, disclosed that the Nigeria Customs Service is considering the use of geospatial intelligence to monitor borders.

The Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Kayode Egbetokun who described the CGC’s visit as timely, affirmed his readiness to unanimously establish a solid working bond with the Nigeria Customs Service.

Congratulating the CGC on his appointment, the Ag. IGP, appreciated his visitor’s vibrant steps in re-branding the Service.

Egbetokun added “your bold steps to uplift the organization is well recognized by Nigerians, and you will surely succeed.”

“You are coming at a time that the Nigeria Police Force is committed to having strong collaboration with other security agencies. I want to inform you that we also share the vision of having a strong platform where all Services will interact, share intelligence and leverage on our different expertise.”

The Ag. IGP affirmed that the best time to actualize the synergy is now, adding that the Nigeria Police Force is determined to form a system that appropriately responds to the dynamics of criminalities in the Country.

Corroborating the CGC’s call on the state of Mile 2-Seme Checkpoints, the Ag. IGP proposed the need to constitute a joint tour of the area, adding that “I will also be paying unscheduled visits to Mile 2-Seme axis.”

Egbetokun also assured that the Force would commit to dismantling illegal checkpoints on the affected roads, adding that forming a synergy to fight against criminals in some strategic places is much needed.