Customs Deploying Technology, Strategic Engagement to Secure Nigeria’s Borders – Ag CG Adeniyi
The Acting Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi has said that their Service will deploy cutting-edge technology and constant engagement with border communities to police the country’s vast and inadequately unmanned national boundaries.
Adeniyi disclosed this on Tuesday at the Abuja office of Image Merchants Promotion (IMPR) Limited on Tuesday, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Editor-in-Chief and staff of PRNigeria.
He explained that the idea of engaging communities at the country’s borders is already yielding a positive impact.
“We have since been engaging with our border communities to help them understand the challenge of securing their areas. So far, we are getting their buy in and support. And I have seen that play out in a number of places I visited,” Adeniyi said.
On the aspect of technology, the Customs boss said that their Service has already created a geospatial Intelligent Unit that provides NCS’ personnel with intelligence reports on trading activities without necessary being there.
“The second thing we wish to use to secure our borders is technology, that will assist us have a strong presence across our border territories.
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“We can have electronic demarcations across our borders, that will just raise an alarm or any kind of signal whenever somebody or something attempts to cross into our shores.
“And of course, we now know that we can acquire images from our satellite, we can have drones, infrared for border patrol. We also have a very viable air wing that has been active in carrying out border patrols. We are at the final stage of reviving and putting them back into the air so that they can also carry out surveillance missions across our borders and provide information to us,” he said.
He promised to collaborate with PRNigeria, as part of enhancing its cordial relationship with the media and other third party stakeholders.
The Custom Acting CG, meanwhile empathized with the traders whose goods were stuck at the Jibia-Niger border, following an ECOWAS’ sanction on Niger Republic after a military coup on July 26, 2023.
“It’s quite unfortunate, when I visited the border I saw physically, the number of trucks trapped. The first thing I did was to offer relief to the truck owners and drivers, because I know that around that sector in Jibia, there are bandits activities. We ensured they moved their truck back to their various states, so that they should not get into the hands of bandits,” he said.
By PRNigeria
