The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Navy have joined forces to suppress waterway smuggling in Lagos.
Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, in charge of the Nigeria Customs Service, Western Marine Command, during a courtesy visit to the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), Western Naval Command, Real Admiral Mustapha Hassan, on Tuesday, 13 August 2024, solicited the support of the Nigerian Navy in tackling smuggling within the waterways.
He said, “We are here for consolidation, there is this existing synergy between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Navy; and the FOC has promised us so many things, and they are even ready to release their boats.”
On tackling smuggling, the Customs Area Controller said the command is unrelenting in suppressing smuggling.
“These people, as we are arresting and dealing with, are also devising new means for their activities, but we are unrelenting, we will match force with them. We are ready, and even with the promise from the FOC, we know that we are good to go,” he stated.
On his part, the FOC, Real Admiral Mustapha Hassan, acknowledged the role of Customs in the development of the blue economy of Nigeria, which, according to him, “is a great source of revenue.”
“When the Western Marine Command tops its job, the sky is the limit. So, based on the bid to collaborate and enhance operations on the waters, we have decided to devise an MOU whereby we can jointly patrol because we have most of the sea-going platforms. The smuggling mainly happens at sea, so we will collaborate and make sure we bring smuggling to an end in Lagos,” he concluded.
