FOU ‘A’, Navy target maritime crime hotspots with joint surveillance

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘A’, and the Nigerian Navy have intensified operational collaboration and intelligence sharing to strengthen surveillance and combat criminal activities within Nigeria’s maritime domain.

The renewed partnership was highlighted on Thursday, August 27, 2026, when officers and men of the Western Naval Command paid a courtesy visit to the headquarters of FOU ‘A’ in Ikeja, Lagos.

Receiving the delegation, the Head of FOU ‘A’, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, described inter-agency cooperation as essential to securing critical maritime corridors and protecting communities and economic activities dependent on them.

“Today, we have translated inter-agency collaboration into strategic partnership, which is not only desirable but essential,” Aliyu said, stressing that operational success depended largely on effective synergy among agencies working at the maritime frontline.

He disclosed that the partnership also involved a strategic assessment of criminal hotspots within the maritime environment, with identified Areas of Surveillance (AoS) requiring coordinated attention and deployment.

According to him, closer collaboration would strengthen the capacity of both agencies to identify emerging threats, share intelligence and respond more effectively to criminal activities.

Speaking on behalf of the Nigerian Navy, the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Mustapha, said the partnership was already yielding operational results and sending a strong warning to criminal elements.

He disclosed that the Navy and FOU ‘A’ recently deployed a helicopter and special forces to identified hotspots as part of efforts to disrupt drug trafficking.

“Recently, the Nigerian Navy and FOU ‘A’ deployed a helicopter and special forces to hotspots to force out those involved in drug trafficking. Our operation led to the interception of a truck containing illicit drugs,” Mustapha said.

He stressed the need to sustain the collaboration, particularly through intelligence sharing, coordinated deployment and joint surveillance, to prevent criminal networks from exploiting gaps between security and law-enforcement agencies.

The two agencies reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the partnership as part of broader efforts to secure Nigeria’s maritime territory, protect legitimate economic activities and safeguard national security.