Customs, NCCSALW Strengthen Partnership To Combat Small Arms Proliferation

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying efforts against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, underscoring a renewed collaboration with the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW).

On Tuesday, 6 August 2024, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi met with a delegation from NCCSALW, led by its National Coordinator, retired DIG Babatunde Kokumo, at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja. CGC Adeniyi praised Kokumo’s appointment by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, calling it “placing a round peg in a round hole,” and expressed enthusiasm about reinforcing the longstanding partnership between the two organizations.

Addressing the delegation, Adeniyi emphasized the critical role of Customs in maintaining national security through rigorous surveillance and enforcement measures. He highlighted recent successful interceptions of arms and military equipment, including notable seizures at Murtala Mohammed Airport and Port Harcourt Port, as examples of effective collaboration. Adeniyi stressed the importance of continued joint efforts to enhance investigations and prevent smuggling.

DIG Babatunde Kokumo expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from the NCS, acknowledging the Customs Service’s pivotal role in the fight against arms proliferation. He informed Adeniyi that NCCSALW operates as a multi-agency center, including Customs officers, and praised the recent achievements in arms seizures as crucial steps toward curbing the illegal trade of small arms and light weapons.

Kokumo reiterated the importance of collaboration between the NCS and NCCSALW, noting that such partnerships are vital for improving public safety and national security. Both parties committed to furthering their joint efforts to address the challenges posed by the proliferation of small arms in Nigeria.

The enhanced collaboration aims to bolster the effectiveness of both agencies in preventing illegal arms trafficking and ensuring a more secure environment for all Nigerians.