The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has affirmed its commitment to bolstering its partnership with the Department of State Services (DSS) in the ongoing fight against smuggling and the proliferation of arms within Nigeria’s borders.
This declaration came from the Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, on September 26, 2023, during his visit to the Director-General of DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, at the DSS Headquarters in Abuja.
The Customs Boss expressed his gratitude to Mr. Bichi for the warm reception despite the short notice of his visit and stressed the importance of maintaining a collaborative partnership between the two agencies to enhance national security.
He stated, “I hereby extend the Nigeria Customs Service’s friendly hands to solicit your support for better service to our dear country, which will intensify border security across the country.”
Mr. Adeniyi also conveyed his appreciation to the DG for affording some of his senior officers the opportunity to participate in special courses at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), a move that, in his view, has enhanced their capacity in fulfilling their constitutional duties.
In response, the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, for his outstanding dedication in carrying out the affairs of the Service since his appointment.
DG Bichi emphasized the significance of teamwork in achieving success in the fight against insecurity, underscoring that no single agency can address these challenges in isolation. He further emphasized that sustaining the synergy between Customs and DSS would be a game-changer in counter-threat actions across border regions. He pledged that his office would continue to provide intelligence support to Customs to enhance their performance.
DG Bichi also pledged to make DSS facilities available for the training and retraining of middle cadre customs officers. In a show of commitment to these objectives, he promptly instructed the relevant DSS departments to initiate discussions with their Customs counterparts to solidify the collaboration necessary to achieve national security goals. Additionally, he led the CGC on a tour of critical infrastructure before their return to Customs Headquarters. This visit underscores the determination of both agencies to work together effectively in the interest of Nigeria’s security and well-being.
