Nigeria’s Security Adviser Commends Customs for Strengthening Border Security

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has praised the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, for his unwavering efforts in enhancing border security to combat the rampant smuggling of petroleum products. 

The commendation came during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held at the Office of the National Security Adviser on Monday, 9th September 2024, in Abuja.

Ribadu emphasised the pressing need to address the ongoing menace of petroleum smuggling, describing it as a significant threat to both Nigeria’s economy and national security. 

“We are gathered here to confront the recurring issue of petroleum product smuggling, a cancer that drains vital resources and jeopardises the nation’s development,” Ribadu stated, calling for greater collaboration among the country’s security apparatus.

During his opening remarks, the NSA lauded the leadership of Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, crediting his tenure with improving the surveillance of Nigeria’s borders. 

He noted that the proactive stance of the Nigeria Customs Service in safeguarding the integrity of the nation’s economy, particularly through its anti-smuggling operations, had been a vital bulwark against illegal activities.

However, Ribadu stressed that combating smuggling would require the collective effort of all stakeholders. 

“The smuggling of petroleum products continues to destabilise the oil sector and foster illegal activities if left unchecked. Our security forces must align to tackle this menace effectively,” Ribadu urged.

The meeting saw the attendance of key figures from the petroleum and regulatory sectors, including representatives from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), demonstrating the wide-ranging commitment to ending smuggling.

In his address, CGC Adeniyi reiterated the NCS’s commitment to its mandate, noting that the agency, under the NCS Act 2023, is fully empowered to take decisive action against smuggling. 

Adeniyi highlighted recent successes in curbing illegal trade across Nigeria’s borders, referencing operations led by Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu that targeted smuggling syndicates.

“This meeting exemplifies the proactive leadership of the NSA, which has facilitated the launching of special operations against smuggling,” Adeniyi said. 

“The repositioning of Nigeria’s economy, especially the oil sector, is a national priority, and the Nigeria Customs Service is ready to fulfil its role.”

Adeniyi further elaborated on the NCS’s use of innovative technology, stating that the service was integrating real-time monitoring systems, inspired by international best practices, such as the blockchain-based tracking systems used in Dubai’s oil and gas sector. 

These technologies, Adeniyi explained, are key to enhancing transparency and accountability across the petroleum supply chain.

Acknowledging the challenges posed by factors outside the Customs Service’s control, Adeniyi assured stakeholders that the NCS would remain steadfast in its efforts to clamp down on the smuggling of petroleum products. 

“We are committed to ensuring that legitimate businesses thrive while stamping out illicit activities in the petroleum sector,” he reaffirmed.

Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration in addressing the smuggling challenge. 

He called for greater funding and the provision of additional resources, such as vehicles, to enhance the effectiveness of operations.

The meeting concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to eradicating petroleum smuggling. 

“We dissociate ourselves from all forms of smuggling and fully support Operation Whirlwind,” the group declared in unison.

As the gathering drew to a close, Chief Superintendent of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, the National Public Relations Officer for the NCS, announced the signing of a joint communique by NSA Ribadu, Comptroller-General Adeniyi, and other key stakeholders. 

The communique outlined a series of actionable resolutions aimed at bolstering border security and curbing petroleum smuggling to safeguard Nigeria’s economy.

“The resolutions adopted today will serve as the foundation for our continued fight against smuggling,” Maiwada concluded.

This high-level meeting marks a renewed commitment by Nigeria’s key security and petroleum stakeholders to tackling the longstanding issue of smuggling and fortifying the country’s borders.