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Efforts to dismantle the criminal empires of cross-border smugglers gained traction on Wednesday, as the acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, visited the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, at his Office in Abuja, to seek ways of fortifying the nation’s entry points.
Customs Spokesman, Abdullahi Maiwada, in a statement said “the maiden visit was part of the collaborative strategies of the Ag. CGC to address some of the challenges associated with the manning of Nigeria’s vast land borders”
Maiwada quoted the acting CGC as saying that “the porous nature of the nation’s borders necessitates this visit to the NSA to fashion the best way to tackle the menace of smuggling which has adverse effects on our economy and security,” the CGC stated.
He added that Adeniyi, after his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on June 19, hit the ground running by spearheading innovative projects aimed at unlocking the full potential of the service.
“With a strong focus on collaboration, engagement with international organizations, the pursuit of cutting-edge technologies, and consolidating on previous gains, the NCS is poised to redefine customs practices for the better.
“The appointment of Acting CG Adewale Adeniyi was announced on Monday, 19 June 2023, while he was attending the Policy Commission and Council meetings of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) in Brussels, Belgium.
“Leveraging this global platform, the Acting CG engaged in topical discussions within the global Customs community, advocating for the exploration of AI-driven solutions, including Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions like ChatGPT and advanced geo-spatial intelligence approaches such as GEOINT. These technologies present immense potential for enhancing communication, decision-making processes, and enforcement operations within Customs.
“Additionally, the NCS has already established a GEOINT unit, leveraging geospatial data, mapping techniques, and satellite imagery to gain valuable insights for customs operations. Collaborative engagements are already underway to operationalise the use of GEOINT to enhance the efficiency of NCS enforcement operations and contribute to overall efficiency. These advancements underline the NCS’s proactive approach toward embracing cutting-edge technologies”, Maiwada noted.
