Nigeria Customs Revamps 2025 Enforcement Strategy, Dissolves Joint Border Patrol Team
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has unveiled a comprehensive overhaul of its enforcement strategy for 2025, aimed at enhancing border security, facilitating legitimate trade, and combating smuggling.
As part of the revamped approach, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, has approved significant reforms, including the dissolution of the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT).
The NCS announced the development in a statement issued on 24 December 2024 by the Service’s National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada.
To streamline operations and minimise trade bottlenecks, the NCS has significantly reduced the number of customs checkpoints nationwide.
The Service will increasingly rely on intelligence-driven operations and strategic risk management frameworks to ensure efficiency.
Advanced geospatial tools and cutting-edge technologies are being deployed to support enforcement strategies, underscoring the NCS’s commitment to modernising its operations.
“The Service is leveraging innovative, intelligence-driven approaches to enhance border management, improve trade compliance, and combat smuggling,” the statement highlighted.
In consultation with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), the NCS has dissolved the Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT), which was established in 2019 under the code name “Ex-Swift Response.”
Initially formed to enforce Nigeria’s partial border closure policy, the JBPT played a vital role in preventing the influx of dangerous goods and ensuring compliance with trade and security regulations.
The NCS acknowledged the contributions of partner government agencies in the success of the JBPT’s operations.
“The invaluable cooperation and dedication of other government agencies have been instrumental in safeguarding Nigeria’s land borders,” the statement noted.
The Customs Service assured stakeholders and the public that these reforms will not compromise border security or legitimate trade facilitation. Instead, they represent a significant leap towards modernised customs operations.
CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi reaffirmed the Service’s dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of Nigerians, stating, “We remain resolute in our commitment to secure the nation’s borders, facilitate legitimate trade, and combat economic sabotage.”
The NCS solicited the continued support of all stakeholders to achieve its objectives, emphasising that a united front is critical in the fight against smuggling and other illicit activities.
