Security
Customs Chief Adeniyi Visits Emir of Gwandu to Boost Border Security
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has paid a historic visit to the Emir of Gwandu, His Royal Highness Muhammadu Bashar, as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and traditional institutions.
The visit took place on Saturday, 7 February 2026, at the Emir’s palace in Kebbi State, a strategic border region in north-west Nigeria.
Customs officials say traditional rulers play a vital role in maintaining peace, discouraging smuggling, and building trust between security agencies and border communities.
What the Customs chief said
Speaking during the visit, CGC Adeniyi described the engagement as strategic to Customs’ stakeholder partnership framework.
He said sustainable border management could not rely on enforcement alone.
Traditional authorities, he noted, are “indispensable allies in sensitising border residents, discouraging smuggling, and fostering trust between security agencies and local communities.”
The Customs boss reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to sustained dialogue with the Kebbi Emirate Council and border communities to curb smuggling and other cross-border crimes that threaten national security and economic stability.
Royal backing
Responding, the Emir of Gwandu welcomed the visit and pledged the continued support of the Emirate Council to Customs and other security agencies in the state.
He also urged residents of border communities to cooperate with authorities by providing timely information to help combat smuggling and related criminal activities.
Inside Kebbi Customs Command
As part of his visit, the CGC inspected facilities at the Nigeria Customs Service, Kebbi Area Command, where he assessed ongoing projects aimed at boosting operational capacity and staff welfare.
He commissioned:
The Bashir Adewale Adeniyi E-Learning Centre
A newly constructed five-aside football pitch named after retired Deputy Comptroller-General Bello Mohammed Jibo
Discipline warning to officers
Addressing officers and men of the Command, CGC Adeniyi charged them to remain disciplined and professional.
He described Kebbi as a strategically significant border Command, crucial for both revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations.
The Customs chief warned officers to ensure that goods move strictly through approved corridors and cautioned against any compromise in the handling of transit cargo.
Border risks and special operations
CGC Adeniyi said Kebbi State remains a major route used by smugglers and economic saboteurs, particularly for the illegal export of petroleum products.
He explained that this informed the deployment of special operations in the area.
The Customs boss also disclosed that he had conveyed the President’s approval for the reopening of the Tsamiya border, reminding officers that the decision comes with increased responsibility to prevent the diversion of transit goods.
What’s next
CGC Adeniyi said Customs would continue investing in technology, inter-agency cooperation, and cross-border collaboration to address smuggling, banditry, terrorism, and organised crime.
He also assured officers of improved welfare and operational support.
A lighter moment
The visit ended on a symbolic note as the CGC joined officers and senior Customs officials in a friendly football match at the newly commissioned pitch, a gesture aimed at boosting morale and camaraderie within the Command.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting personal data used in policing, as Nigeria increasingly relies on digital tools for law enforcement.
The PSC Chairman, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hashimu Salihu Argungu, made the pledge at the National Data Privacy Summit 2026 in Abuja.
The summit, themed “Privacy in the Era of Emerging Technologies: Trust, Ethics and Innovation,” was organised by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) at the Transcorp Hilton.
Speaking at the event, Argungu said modern policing now depends heavily on data rather than physical surveillance alone.
“In the ongoing recruitment of 50,000 Police Constables and across all our operations, the PSC is dedicated to strict compliance with NDPC policies on data protection,” he said.
He added that safeguarding personal information was essential to maintaining public trust in law enforcement institutions.
Why it matters
Nigeria’s security agencies are collecting more personal data than ever before, from biometric records to digital background checks.
With thousands of new police recruits entering the system, how data is stored, shared and protected has become a growing public concern.
Partnership with data regulators
Mr Argungu praised the NDPC and its National Commissioner, Dr Vincent Olatunji, for what he described as pioneering efforts to strengthen data protection nationwide.
He also reaffirmed the PSC’s ongoing partnership with the NDPC to ensure ethical data management across police operations.
The PSC said this collaboration would help align law enforcement practices with Nigeria’s data protection laws.
What the law says
The Nigeria Data Protection Commission is responsible for enforcing data privacy standards across public and private institutions.
Under existing regulations, organisations that collect personal data must ensure transparency, consent and secure handling of information.
Failure to comply can attract sanctions, fines or legal action.
What’s next
The PSC says it will continue integrating ethical data practices into recruitment, promotions and disciplinary processes.
Officials say further training and compliance audits are expected as Nigeria deepens its use of digital policing tools.
About the Police Service Commission
The Police Service Commission is a federal executive body empowered to appoint, promote and discipline police officers in Nigeria, except the Inspector-General of Police.
Its mandate is derived from the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Police Service Commission Establishment Act of 2001.
Nigeria’s cybercrime war is gaining global attention after the United Nations praised a police unit that recovered billions of naira and cracked major international fraud networks.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has praised the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) for what it described as a strong and growing impact in the fight against cybercrime in Nigeria.
The commendation is contained in UNODC’s 2025 Annual Report on Cybercrime in Nigeria, which highlights the Centre as a key functional unit strengthening cybersecurity and protecting victims of digital crime.
High-profile arrests put Nigeria on the global map
According to the report, the Cybercrime Centre recently arrested 93 Chinese nationals and other Asian suspects linked to large-scale cyber-enabled crimes.
UNODC said the operation significantly raised the Centre’s profile and demonstrated Nigeria’s increasing capacity to tackle complex, cross-border cybercrime networks.
Cybersecurity analysts say such arrests send a strong signal to international fraud syndicates that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for cybercriminal operations.
Billions recovered and returned to victims
UNODC also highlighted the Centre’s success in financial recovery, describing it as one of its most impactful achievements.
In 2024 alone, the NPF-NCCC recovered:
₦8.82 billion in illicit proceeds
115,237.91 USDT in cryptocurrency
$84,000 in cash
The report confirmed that all recovered funds were returned to victims, a move experts say builds public trust in law enforcement and encourages more people to report cybercrime.
In addition, the Centre dismantled 685 devices linked to cybercrime activities.
Why it matters
Cybercrime costs Nigeria billions of naira every year, affecting individuals, businesses, and the wider economy.
For everyday Nigerians, it also means a higher chance of getting stolen funds back when cybercriminals are caught.
Global recognition from INTERPOL
The UNODC commendation follows another major international recognition.
The NPF-NCCC was recently named Africa’s Best Cybercrime Unit by INTERPOL’s Cybercrime Directorate in Singapore, outperforming units from 54 African countries.
The Centre has also upgraded its public complaint system to an e-reporting platform, making it easier for victims to report cyber-related crimes without visiting a police station.
What authorities are saying
While presenting copies of the UN report to the Director of the Cybercrime Centre, UNODC reaffirmed its commitment to Nigeria.
The agency said it would continue to support the NPF-NCCC through financial assistance, specialised training, and advanced technological tools to improve operational efficiency.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, welcomed the recognition.
He commended UNODC for its continued collaboration and reaffirmed the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to ensuring a safer cyberspace for citizens and businesses.
What’s next
UNODC’s continued support is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s ability to investigate digital crimes, recover stolen assets, and disrupt transnational cybercrime networks.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Border Security has pledged to support the Nigeria Police Force in strengthening the country’s border security framework.
The commitment was made during a working visit by the lawmakers to the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
Why it matters
Nigeria’s vast and porous borders have long been linked to insecurity, including smuggling, illegal migration, arms trafficking, and insurgent movements.
Police pledge deeper collaboration
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to tackling border-related security challenges through closer cooperation with the legislature.
He made the remarks while receiving members of the House Committee, describing national security as a “shared responsibility” that requires coordinated strategies and institutional cooperation.
The IGP was represented at the meeting by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Bzigu Yakubu Kwazhi.
DIG Kwazhi thanked the lawmakers for their proactive engagement, noting that a unified national vision was essential to addressing complex security threats along Nigeria’s borders.
Lawmakers outline priorities
The House Committee delegation was led by its Chairman, Hon. Isah Mohammed Anka, alongside Hon. David Agada, Hon. Davidson Akinlayo Kolawole, Hon. Paul Gowon, Hon. Saba Ahmed Adamu, and the Committee Clerk, Mrs Jemila Umar.
Hon. Anka pledged the committee’s full support for reforms aimed at strengthening border security.
He said the lawmakers would focus on the deployment of modern surveillance technology, improved welfare for officers deployed to border areas, and specialised training for personnel of the Border Patrol Force.
“The committee is committed to making meaningful contributions that will enhance the operational effectiveness of border security officers,” Anka said.
Police Border Patrol reacts
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Border Patrol Force, AIG Nemi Iwoh, welcomed the committee’s intervention.
He said the swift implementation of resolutions reached during the engagement would significantly strengthen Nigeria’s border security architecture.
“Speedy implementation of these resolutions will greatly enhance our operational capacity,” AIG Iwoh said.
What’s next
The Nigeria Police Force said it remains open to sustained collaboration with the National Assembly and other stakeholders to achieve lasting security outcomes.
The Force added that border security reforms would remain a priority under the leadership of IGP Egbetokun.
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