The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, has called for stronger collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to combat smuggling and other trans-border crimes.
The Acting Comptroller of FOU Zone A, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Olukayode Afeni, made the call during a familiarisation visit to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, as part of efforts to strengthen inter-agency cooperation.
According to a statement issued by the unit’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Hussaini Abdullahi, on Friday, the visit commenced on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, and formed part of a broader engagement with security and law enforcement agencies in Lagos.
Speaking during the visit, Afeni stressed the importance of closer cooperation among security agencies, particularly as the country approaches the election period.
“We know that crime rates often increase as the country approaches the election period, as some people may attempt to take advantage of the period to perpetrate illicit activities capable of causing crises during the elections. Therefore, we are here to call for closer synergy so that these bad elements do not have their way,” he said.
The Acting Comptroller noted that the responsibilities of the Federal Operations Unit extended beyond border enforcement to include protecting national interests through effective intelligence sharing and coordinated operations.
He added that no security agency could effectively tackle criminal activities in isolation, noting the importance of sustained cooperation and information exchange among relevant institutions.
Afeni also acknowledged the intelligence-gathering capacity of the Nigeria Police Force, emphasising the need to strengthen existing relationships to improve security operations.
In his response, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, welcomed the visit, describing cooperation between the two agencies as a longstanding practice that had contributed to their operational successes.
“In Lagos, we have a very strong and robust relationship with all security agencies, notwithstanding the huge population of the state,” Fatai said.
The Customs delegation also visited the Department of State Services, Headquarters of the 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Strategic Command, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Ikeja.
During the visit to the Headquarters of the 81 Division, the Acting Comptroller was received by the General Officer Commanding, Major General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola.
Babalola underscored the importance of joint efforts in tackling criminality and cautioned against unnecessary administrative bottlenecks that could impede operational efficiency.
The engagements provided an opportunity for the agencies to discuss practical areas of cooperation, including intelligence sharing, joint operations, information exchange, and enforcement of relevant laws within Lagos and the wider operational area of FOU Zone A.
The agencies reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining cooperation with the Nigeria Customs Service to strengthen security and enforcement operations.
The Customs Service said the visits underscored FOU Zone A’s commitment to collaborative enforcement in support of national security, revenue protection, trade facilitation and Nigeria’s economic interests.
