Lagos: The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Western Marine Command has deepened its collaboration with the Nigerian Army in a renewed push to curb smuggling across the southwestern waterways.
The joint effort underscores a growing security partnership aimed at protecting Nigeria’s maritime borders and disrupting illicit trade routes that undermine the economy.
The Customs Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, said this during a courtesy visit by Lt. Col. A.E. Amangele, Commanding Officer, 15 Field Engineer Regiment, at the command’s headquarters in Apapa, Lagos, on Wednesday.
The high-level talks centred on intelligence sharing, joint operations, and better cooperation.
Ntadi said tackling smuggling needs a collective effort, as illicit trade affects government revenue and economic stability.
He said collaboration is crucial due to the vast waterways and smugglers’ sophistication.
Smugglers profit while the country suffers. No single agency can handle this alone.
The waterways are hard to monitor. Collaboration with agencies like the Navy and Army is vital for effective results.
Ntadi called the Army’s visit a positive step for stronger support and better enforcement.
Earlier, Amangele said the visit aimed to foster better working ties and boost operational synergy between the Army and Customs.
He said the meeting focused on intelligence sharing and coordinated strategies to stop crimes along the waterways.
Building strong ties with other agencies boosts our effectiveness.
This visit strengthens collaboration for seamless operations against smuggling and other security threats.
The renewed partnership aims to enhance surveillance, strengthen enforcement, and ultimately reduce smuggling across the region to improve security and economic stability.
