ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Ikeja, has reiterated its commitment to adopting intelligence-driven strategies in the fight against smuggling activities.
The Customs Area Controller for the unit, Mohammed Shuaibu, made this known on Thursday while receiving members of the Shipping Correspondents Association of Nigeria (SCAN) in Ikeja, Lagos.
Shuaibu, who vowed to apply his extensive experience to enhance the unit’s operations, said the focus would shift from routine roadside checks to more targeted actions based on credible intelligence.
He stated his intention to pursue “intelligence-driven operations rather than stopping containers incessantly on the highways.”
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While acknowledging the unit’s core responsibility as an anti-smuggling command, Shuaibu also emphasised its role in facilitating legitimate trade.
“In terms of our anti-smuggling activities, very soon we are going to showcase some of our seizures and the suspects to the public. I do intelligence-driven operations,” he said.
Explaining the operational shift, he said:
“What we are trying to do is to ensure that we don’t just stop any kind of containers, even those checking points you see our officers roving around, we would want to eradicate that, while we will be doing intelligence-driven operations.
So, at any point in time, you will see that our officers will stop you and then remove those illegal items that are supposed to be extracted from your consignment.”
He urged importers and their clearing agents to embrace transparency in their declarations to avoid delays and enforcement actions.
“If you see such officers coming out, it is because of the insincerity of the declarants or the importers. Now, we are going to be doing intelligence-driven operations, so if you see them stationed at a strategic location, it is because of the information at our disposal that we are tracking,” Shuaibu added.
The Area Controller also pledged to build on the unit’s existing achievements and deepen collaboration with relevant stakeholders to enhance trade facilitation.
He noted the command’s continued partnership with sister security agencies, citing a recent joint effort with the Nigerian Army.
Earlier, the President of SCAN, Moses Ebosele, lauded the customs unit for its dedication to safeguarding the national economy from the infiltration of illicit goods.