The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called for intelligence-led border security, stronger inter-agency collaboration and modern surveillance technology to curb the smuggling of illicit small arms and light weapons into Nigeria.
The Service said a coordinated approach involving security agencies, border communities and neighbouring countries was essential to tackling arms trafficking and other forms of transnational organised crime.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made the call in a lecture delivered at a Leadership Course on the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), organised by the Defence Intelligence College, Abuja.
In a statement issued on Monday, the NCS said Adeniyi spoke on the topic, “The Role of the Nigeria Customs Service in Intercepting Arms Smugglers and the Challenges of Border Management.”
Represented by the Deputy Commandant and Director of Studies, Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Comptroller of Customs Haniel Hadison, Adeniyi said the NCS remained at the forefront of efforts to disrupt illicit arms trafficking through intelligence-led enforcement, strategic interceptions and collaboration with relevant security agencies.
He said effective border security could not be achieved by the Customs Service alone, stressing the need for sustained cooperation among stakeholders, improved intelligence sharing, engagement with border communities and closer collaboration with neighbouring countries.
Adeniyi identified porous land and maritime borders, numerous illegal crossing routes, inadequate surveillance technology, shortage of trained personnel, insufficient operational logistics and increasingly sophisticated concealment methods as major challenges confronting border management.
He urged the government to sustain investment in modern border surveillance systems, non-intrusive inspection technology, drones, biometric border management and personnel development.
The Customs boss also stressed the importance of intelligence gathering, risk profiling and continuous professional training to tackle emerging smuggling techniques and transnational organised crime.
According to him, successful interceptions recorded by the Service at seaports and airports had demonstrated the importance of modern inspection technology, intelligence gathering, effective risk profiling and collaboration with other security agencies.
He said the operational successes recorded by the Service offered practical lessons for strengthening border security.
Adeniyi added that a coordinated national border management strategy, backed by adequate funding, institutional reforms and stronger sanctions against arms traffickers, would help reduce illicit arms smuggling and enhance national security.