Customs, DSS join force on fight against smuggling

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

Smuggling and arms proliferation on the Nigeria’s soil may have been over as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Department of State Services (DSS) have cemented strong collaboration to combat the adverse effects

Acting Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi made this pledge when he paid a familiarization visit to the Director-General of DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, at the DSS Headquarters, in Abuja.

Adeniyi emphasised that maintaining a mutual partnership between the two agencies will go a long way in enhancing national security.

“I hereby extend the Nigeria Customs Service’s friendly hands to solicit your support for better service to our dear country – which will intensify border security across the country,” Adeniyi expressed.

Customs and DSS interacting on fostering synergy

He appreciated the privilege given to some of the senior officers to take part in special courses at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS).

According to Adeniyi, the development has broadened their capacity in discharging their constitutional duties.

In his response, the DSS Director commended the Comptroller-General for his ‘notable’ resilience in carrying out the affairs of the Service, since his appointment.

Bichi agreed that “teamwork is the basis for success in the fight against insecurity as no agency can do it alone”.

According to him, sustaining the Customs-DSS synergy will be a game changer in the counter-threat actions across border areas, pledging that his office will continue to provide intelligence to Customs to aid their performance.

He pledged to make DSS facilities available for training and retraining of middle cadre customs officers

Meanwhile, the DGSS had directed relevant departments to urgently engage their Customs Counterparts for the required synergy to actualize national security objectives.

He also took the controller general on a tour of critical infrastructure.

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