The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, has called for stronger cooperation with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to combat smuggling and trans-border crimes, particularly as the country approaches the election period.
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 in Ikeja as part of efforts to strengthen inter-agency collaboration.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the unit’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Hussaini Abdullahi, the visit began on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, and formed part of broader engagements with security and law enforcement agencies in Lagos.
Afeni stressed the need for security agencies to work together to prevent criminal activities that could threaten public safety during the election period.
He said: “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.”
The Acting Comptroller said FOU Zone A’s responsibilities extended beyond border enforcement to protecting national interests through intelligence sharing and coordinated operations.
He noted that no security agency could effectively tackle criminal activities in isolation, stressing the need for sustained cooperation and information exchange among relevant institutions.
Afeni also acknowledged the Nigeria Police Force’s intelligence-gathering capacity, calling for stronger ties to improve security operations.
Responding, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, welcomed the Customs delegation and described collaboration between the two agencies as a longstanding practice that had contributed to their operational successes.
Fatai said: “In Lagos, we have a very strong and robust relationship with all security agencies, notwithstanding the huge population of the state.”
The Customs delegation also visited the Department of State Services, the headquarters of the Nigerian Army’s 81 Division, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Strategic Command, the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigerian Army’s 9 Brigade in Ikeja.
During the visit to the headquarters of the 81 Division, Afeni was received by the General Officer Commanding, Major General Adebayo Abdulrahman Babalola.
Babalola emphasised the importance of joint efforts in tackling criminality and warned against unnecessary administrative bottlenecks that could hinder operational efficiency.
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The engagements provided an opportunity for the agencies to discuss areas of cooperation, including intelligence sharing, joint operations, information exchange and enforcement of relevant laws across Lagos and the wider operational area of FOU Zone A.
The agencies reaffirmed their commitment to working with the Nigeria Customs Service to strengthen security and enforcement operations.
The Customs Service said the visits demonstrated FOU Zone A’s commitment to collaborative enforcement in support of national security, revenue protection, trade facilitation and Nigeria’s economic interests.
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