Nigeria Customs Transfers Seized Arms to NCCSALW, Reaffirms Commitment to National Security
…As CGC Adeniyi Vows Relentless Crackdown on Arms Trafficking
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has officially handed over a cache of 1,599 assorted firearms and 2,298 live cartridges to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), reinforcing its commitment to bolstering national security and combating illicit arms proliferation.
The weapons, which were seized in 2018 in three containers at the Tin Can Island Port, were formally transferred to the NCCSALW during a ceremony held on Thursday, 13 February 2025, at the headquarters of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking at the event, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, underscored the Service’s unwavering resolve to safeguard Nigeria’s borders and protect citizens from the dangers of illegal arms trafficking.
“We will spare no resource in hunting down, exposing, and prosecuting anyone who attempts to compromise our national security through arms trafficking,” Adeniyi declared.
He commended the professionalism and dedication of customs officers whose vigilance led to the successful seizure of the contraband, as well as the Forensics Unit for its critical role in securing convictions related to the case.
Reaffirming the Service’s dual mandate of facilitating legitimate trade while ensuring national security, Adeniyi assured Nigerians of the NCS’s continuous deployment of intelligence and enforcement strategies to neutralise security threats.
“We stand ready to deploy our full arsenal of intelligence and enforcement capabilities to protect legitimate trade as we ensure Nigeria’s security interests remain paramount,” he added.
Receiving the arms on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Director-General of NCCSALW, DIG Johnson Babatunde (Rtd), assured that the weapons would be handled in strict adherence to international conventions.
“Nigeria is a signatory to the ECOWAS Convention, and we will not do anything short of international best practice,” Babatunde stated.
He further called on all stakeholders to remain vigilant and foster collaborative efforts to stem the flow of illicit arms into the country, stressing that collective resilience was crucial in addressing the threat posed by illegal weaponry.
The handover marks yet another significant step in Nigeria’s broader efforts to curb the circulation of small arms and light weapons, reinforcing the government’s commitment to bolstering security across the nation.
