National Security: Customs, Army, Others collaborate to end smuggling, trafficking in Nigeria

Abiola Seun

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will join other security, intelligence gathering agencies to conduct a joint border security exercise, codenamed “EX-SWIFT RESPONSE”.

In a press statement by the National Public Relation Officer of the service, Joseph Attah and a copy made available to journalists, the operation is part of the measures put in place by the government to secure Nigeria’s land and maritime borders from smuggling and other nefarious activities.

Apart from the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), other agencies include the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), in collaboration with the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) as well as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security and intelligence agencies .

The joint exercise is being coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and will take place in four geopolitical zones, namely; South-South, South-West, North-Central and North-West.

It is expected that the exercise will promote inter- agency cooperation and increase preparedness to address trans-border security challenges such as terrorism, armed banditry, smuggling, proliferation of small arms and light weapons, amongst others.

The exercise will also involve the movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment within the affected parts of the country.

‘Therefore, we call on members of the public not to panic and should continue to engage in their normal duties. The overall objective is to ensure a peaceful and secured country in the interest of our National Security’.