Customs goes sophisticated in fight against smuggling, trains officers on location tech

 

“Gone are those days when officers carry guns to scout smugglers in the bushes”

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigerians Customs Service in embracing technology towards the enhancement of its activities; closing up on smugglers and smuggling activities has launched a two-day workshop on Geospatial techniques for officers and men of the Service.

Participants(NCS officers) at the training

The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, who was ably represented by Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Sa’idu Galadima, in his keynote address at the event last Wednesday said the training will enlighten the officers to have a practical understanding of border security — which will yield positive results in boosting Nigeria’s economy.

The program, according to the CGC, ably represented by Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Sa’idu Galadima, will enlighten the officers to have a practical understanding of border security — which will yield positive results in boosting Nigeria’s economy.

Galadima

Galadima reiterated the CGC’s passion for intensifying the Service’s efficiency, leveraging technology to enhance trade and curb smuggling amongst other criminalities, applauded him for his unflinching support to technology and it’s advancement in the NCS.

Applauding the CGC, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernization, Kikelomo Adeola, said introducing Geospatial technology training for Customs officers will enable the Service to maximize its war against smuggling.

She said, “Gone are those days when officers carry guns to scout smugglers in the bushes; that’s why we deemed it necessary to introduce this geospatial program to equip our staff with requisite experience in checkmating smuggling activities while in their offices.”

Adeola

According to her, the workshop, if concluded, will enable the Service to detect all the illegal and unapproved routes made by smugglers across the border areas and also deploy intervention to thwart their nefarious activities.
Adeola stated,

“This training will go a long way in strengthening Customs’ unflinching efforts to improve trade in Nigeria, so geospatial doesn’t only give insight to our offices to mitigate smuggling through technological moonroof, but also gives accurate and timely intelligence to ensure that anti-smuggling activities are perfectly achieved.”

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