The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Customs Police Unit has been charged to strengthen intelligence sharing, embrace technology-driven enforcement and deepen collaboration with sister security agencies to address terrorism, kidnapping, arms proliferation, drug trafficking and other transnational crimes threatening Nigeria’s national security.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, gave the charge on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at the inaugural Customs Police Summit held at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja. The summit, themed “Reimagining Customs Policing: Learning from the Past, Responding to the Present, and Preparing for the Future”, provided a platform to examine the Unit's evolution, assess its operational capabilities, and identify strategies to address emerging security challenges. Adeniyi noted that the effectiveness of modern Customs policing should not be measured solely by the volume of seizures recorded but by the ability of intelligence capabilities to prevent security threats from entering or moving through the country’s borders. “The central question is no longer simply how many seizures the Service makes, but how effectively its intelligence capabilities prevent threats from entering or moving through Nigeria’s borders,” he said. He explained that intelligence-led policing requires the systematic collection, analysis, sharing, and application of information to identify threats, detect suspicious patterns, prioritise enforcement resources, and support timely operational decisions. Using cargo examination as an example, the CGC observed that technology and intelligence could help officers identify high-risk consignments within large volumes of containers, thereby reducing unnecessary physical examinations. He further stressed that intelligence gathering should begin from the point of shipment, with officers paying attention to transaction patterns, importers, agents and previous business activities.
Addressing the institutional development of the Customs Police Unit, Adeniyi acknowledged the contributions of former Provost Marshals and emphasised the importance of transferring their experiences and professional knowledge to younger officers preparing to assume leadership responsibilities. He called for sustained investment in training, investigative techniques, personnel development and modern technology, while stressing that discipline, integrity, respect for human rights, lawful procedures and accountability must remain the foundation of Customs policing.
In a goodwill message on behalf of the Nigerian Army Provost Marshal, Major General Mathias Eremelu, the Chief of Staff, Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police, Brigadier General Sule Saliu, called for stronger partnerships among security institutions, particularly in intelligence sharing and coordinated operations. He maintained that security challenges could not be effectively addressed by individual agencies operating independently, stressing that “no security agency can effectively operate in isolation.” He also advocated improved information exchange, joint operations and stronger institutional relationships to close operational gaps and strengthen responses to emerging threats.
Similarly, Navy Captain Yahaya Sado, representing the Naval Provost Marshal, Commander Henry Ejeh, underscored the importance of learning from former officers' experiences and translating those lessons into improved professional standards. He highlighted opportunities for cooperation between the NCS and the Nigerian Navy, particularly in maritime security operations, noting that “effective communication and lawful information sharing are essential to strengthening our respective responsibilities.” He also called for greater investment in personnel, operational systems and strategic partnerships to enhance institutional capacity.
Other goodwill messages were delivered by Comptroller Muhammad Hassan (rtd), representing former Provost Marshals; Bala Ahmed Mohammed, Head Provost, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Headquarters; and Commandant of Corps Babatunde Kolawole, Provost Marshal of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Their contributions focused on institutional cooperation, professional standards, personnel welfare and sustained capacity development. The summit also featured presentations and discussions on the history and evolution of the Customs Police Unit, investigative capacity, personnel motivation, operational challenges and the need to strengthen internal procedures. Participants drew on retired officers' experiences to identify lessons and practical approaches for repositioning the Unit to meet contemporary security demands.
In his vote of thanks, the Acting Provost Marshal, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Tasiu Saulawa, thanked the Comptroller-General and his management team, former Provost Marshals, representatives of sister security agencies, and other stakeholders for their participation and support in the successful organisation of the summit. He reaffirmed the Unit’s commitment to institutional continuity and professional excellence, stating: “We remain committed to sustaining the standards established by our predecessors and building a more disciplined, professional, and accountable Customs Police Unit.”
The inaugural summit brought together serving and retired Provost Marshals, representatives of sister security agencies and other stakeholders to deliberate on the past, present and future of Customs policing. The engagement underscored the need for stronger institutional capacity, intelligence-driven operations, and deeper inter-agency cooperation to enhance the Nigeria Customs Service’s contribution to national security.
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