Security
Customs Strengthens Security Collaboration with Air Force, Immigration in Oyo, Osun
Nigeria’s Oyo/Osun Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it is strengthening collaboration with security agencies and traditional institutions to tackle smuggling, protect borders, and improve public safety.
The command made this known following a series of strategic courtesy and familiarisation visits held on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, in Ibadan.
Customs officials say the engagements are part of broader efforts to improve inter-agency cooperation, enhance intelligence sharing, and address emerging security threats across the South-West.
Air Force Calls for Stronger Security Synergy
As part of the engagements, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Works Station, Ibadan, led by Air Commodore D.U. Njoku, paid a familiarisation visit to the Customs Operational Headquarters.
The delegation was received by the Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Wale Moses Adewole, alongside senior officers of the command.
Speaking during the visit, Air Commodore Njoku stressed the importance of sustained collaboration among security agencies.
He noted that effective inter-agency synergy remains critical to addressing emerging security challenges, combating smuggling, economic sabotage, and other transborder crimes.
Customs Reaffirms Mandate on Revenue and Border Security
Responding, Deputy Comptroller Wale Adewole thanked the Air Force leadership for the visit and reaffirmed Customs’ commitment to deepening partnerships with sister agencies.
He stressed that the Nigeria Customs Service remains dedicated to its core mandates of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border security, adding that cooperation with other security agencies significantly enhances operational efficiency.
Customs officials say such partnerships are increasingly important as criminal networks adopt more sophisticated methods.
Immigration Service Engagement Focuses on Intelligence Sharing
The Acting Area Controller also paid a courtesy visit to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Oyo State Command.
He was received by the Deputy Comptroller of Immigration, who represented the State Controller, DC VC Oyeaka.
Discussions during the meeting focused on coordinated border management, improved intelligence sharing, and proactive strategies to strengthen the state’s security architecture.
Traditional Institutions Seen as Key Security Partners
In a separate engagement, Deputy Comptroller Adewole paid homage to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja.
Customs officials said the visit underscored the Service’s recognition of traditional rulers as critical partners in maintaining peace and supporting community-based security efforts.
The engagement also highlighted the role of grassroots cooperation in promoting lawful trade and creating an environment conducive to economic growth.
Why This Matters
For residents and businesses in Oyo and Osun, stronger collaboration could mean safer communities, more secure trade routes, and increased government revenue.
What’s Next
The Oyo/Osun Area Command says it will continue building productive relationships with security agencies, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders.
Officials insist that sustained collaboration remains essential for the effective discharge of Customs’ statutory responsibilities.
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.
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