BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, and its Benin Republic counterpart have united to bolster geospatial technology by solidifying economic security and surveillance along their shared border corridor.
Geospatial Technology is the application of remote sensing, geographic information systems and, global positioning systems to gather and analyse spatial data for managing agricultural practices and landscapes, as well as informed decision-making on land use and resource management.
Through the partnership, Nigeria and the Benin Republic will engage in seamless activities, aimed at consolidating the existing synergy to curb trans-border crime and facilitate legitimate trade.
This formed the crux of discussion during a strategic engagement between the two countries’ Customs at the ECOWAS Conference Hall, Seme-Krake, Joint Border Post.
The Customs Area Controller of Seme Area Command, Comptroller Abdullahi Kaila described the initiative as a major step toward improving border management, enhancing trade, and addressing security challenges along one of West Africa's busiest trade corridors.
“Seme border remains a vital trading corridor and has witnessed numerous challenges. With this geospatial initiative, some of the issues can be addressed and we can boost our revenue," Kaila stated.
The Head of Geospatial at the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Labaran Ahmed noted that the initiative is designed to test-run the Service's border management application using the World Customs Organisation, WCO, satellite platform.
"With this new tool, we will not only identify vulnerable points along the border but also strategically deploy our field officers to those locations for targeted operations and more effective results," he added.
Ahmed disclosed that Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo are among the pioneer countries implementing the geospatial technology, saying that its success has attracted wider interest across the continent.
"We recently had a master-class training and additional 19 African countries including Egypt, Senegal, Kenya, and Mali, among other Customs administrations, have decided to adopt the tool to fight smuggling activities," he said.
In a bid to reinforce its commitment to securing the nation's borders and inland waterways, the Acting Comptroller North Eastern Marine Command, NEC, of Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs, DC, Joseph Ikewun, embarked on a maiden operational tour of the Command's outstations in Adamawa State.
The operational tour commenced with a meeting between DC Ikewun and the Customs Area Controller of the Adamawa/Taraba Area Command, Comptroller of Customs Muhammed Tako, where both officers discussed intelligence sharing, border security, anti-smuggling operations and other areas of mutual operational interest to strengthen enforcement along the border.
Accompanied by officers of the Customs Intelligence Unit and the Operation Whirlwind Team, the Ag. Comptroller visited the Jimeta-Yola Marine Base Jetty before proceeding by patrol boat to the Ribadu, Wuroboki and Kochiel Marine Outstations along the Nigeria-Cameroon waterways.
The visit to Kochiel marked a significant milestone, making him the first Comptroller NEC to physically visit the outstation since the Command was established.
DC Ikewun also visited Muninga, Damari and Gurin Marine Outstations, where he inspected operational facilities, assessed officers' readiness and encouraged personnel to remain disciplined, vigilant and committed to the statutory responsibilities of the NCS.
He promised officers serving in remote border communities of the Command's commitment to strengthening operational capacity, improving logistics support and promoting their welfare.
During the visit, DC Ikewun met with personnel of the Marine Police and the Marine Units of the Nigeria Immigration Service stationed across the various locations to assess the level of inter-agency cooperation in the border communities.
He said: “Sustained collaboration among security agencies remains critical to addressing smuggling, transnational crimes and other security threats along the inland waterways and international border corridors.”
Comments
Post a Comment