Customs and DSS Join Forces Against Smuggling

 The Nigeria Customs Service and the Department of State Services are intensifying their cooperation to combat smuggling and bolster national security.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has affirmed its commitment to deepen its collaborative efforts with the Department of State Services (DSS) in tackling the detrimental impacts of smuggling and arms proliferation on Nigerian territory.

This commitment was reiterated by the Acting Comptroller-General of the Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, during his courtesy visit to the Director-General of DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, at the DSS Headquarters, Abuja, on September 26, 2023.

The Customs chief expressed gratitude to Mr. Bichi for the warm reception, despite the short notice, and underscored the significance of maintaining a mutual partnership between the two agencies to enhance national security.

“I extend the hand of friendship from the Nigeria Customs Service, seeking your support to serve our dear country better, with a focus on fortifying border security nationwide,” he emphasized.

Adeniyi also commended the DG for affording some of his senior officers the opportunity to participate in specialized courses at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), an initiative he believes has enhanced their capacity in fulfilling their constitutional duties.

In his response, the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, for his remarkable dedication in steering the affairs of the Service since his appointment.

Expanding on his statement, DG Bichi emphasized that "teamwork is the foundation for success in the fight against insecurity, as no agency can do it alone.”

Furthermore, he underscored that the sustained synergy between Customs and DSS will be a game changer in counter-threat operations across border regions. He pledged to continue providing intelligence to Customs to enhance their performance.

Additionally, DG Bichi pledged to make DSS facilities available for the training and retraining of middle cadre customs officers.

In a demonstration of his commitment to these declarations, the DGSS promptly instructed his relevant departments to engage their Customs counterparts urgently, fostering the necessary synergy to achieve national security objectives. He also accompanied the CGC on a tour of critical infrastructure before the team returned to the Customs Headquarters.