By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reiterated its commitment to intensifying surveillance and enforcement measures to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the country.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this known during a meeting with a delegation from the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), led by National Coordinator, DIG Babatunde Kokumo (rtd), at the Service’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Adeniyi described Kokumo’s appointment as “placing a round peg in a round hole” and expressed readiness to strengthen their collaboration to promote public safety and security.
“I want to believe that you’ve brought a wealth of experience to this assignment, and I have no doubt that you will have a successful tour of duty. Let me also say that Nigeria Customs Service is delighted to collaborate with the centre to create your mandate,” Adeniyi said.
The CGC states the Service’s modest contributions to ensuring proficient scrutiny of merchandise coming into the country, citing recent seizures of arms and military wares at Murtala Mohammed Airport, Lagos, and other ports.
Kokumo appreciated the collaboration between NCS and NCCSALW, saying, “Let me thank you for the opportunity accorded us to meet you, and I wish to let you know that we have been monitoring your activities.”
He commended Adeniyi for his recent achievements in seizing arms and ammunition, which he said would help control the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Nigeria.