NCS, NFIU Forge Partnership To Boost Nigerian Border Security

In a significant move to bolster Nigeria’s border security, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, met with the Director-General of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Hafsat Bakari, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at the Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting centered on strengthening cooperation between the two agencies to enhance measures against smuggling, money laundering, and terrorism financing activities. CGC Adeniyi expressed the Customs Service’s commitment to supporting the NFIU by forming a joint team to tackle these critical issues.

CGC Adeniyi extended his best wishes to DG Bakari for her tenure and emphasized the shared goals and collaborative spirit between their organizations. “I want to wish you a successful tenure. I see, through your passion, your commitment to Project Nigeria, and I also see the collaborative spirit that you brought on board. These are all things that I share also because I believe that we can draw strength from each other, assist ourselves, and get things done,” Adeniyi stated.

He further highlighted the need for an internal review team from the Customs side to address outstanding security concerns, signaling a proactive approach towards operational cooperation.

DG Bakari, on her part, commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its steadfast efforts in securing the nation’s borders and stressed the importance of intelligence sharing between the two entities. “We recognize the vital role of the NCS in protecting Nigeria’s borders, preventing the smuggling of illicit goods, but also in ensuring that those who import goods into our country pay the appropriate fees and levies that are due to the federal government,” Bakari remarked.

She outlined the NFIU’s ambition to enhance systems, processes, and technologies to detect smuggling of currency and high-value items more effectively, underscoring her vision for a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

This partnership marks a pivotal step in tightening security at Nigeria’s borders and is expected to have a substantial impact on national security efforts against organized crime and terrorism-related financing.