BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
L-R: Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, FFS, Olumode Adeyemi and
Comptroller-General of Customs ,CGC, Adewale Adeniyi displaying the Memorandum of Understanding , MoU, signed between the Agencies in Abuja recently.
The Nigeria Customs Service ,NCS, has sealed a deal with the Federal Fire Service ,FFS, and Unilever Nigeria Plc to protect consumers, safeguard lives and support economic growth.
Comptroller-General of Customs ,CGC, Adewale Adeniyi said over the weekend in Abuja, that the seperately signed Memoranda of Understanding ,MoUs, will strengthen inter-agency and public-private collaboration, enhance security, protect legitimate trade and safeguard lives.
Adeniyi described the MoU as a bold, deliberate and strategic step towards supporting the shared mandates of both agencies to protect lives, property and critical national assets.
He disclosed that the agreement would enhance fire safety standards across Customs facilities, facilitate rapid response to emergencies, support joint training and capacity building, and promote information sharing on fire safety and emergency preparedness.
Adeniyi said: "I am very confident that this MoU will translate to practical actions that save lives, protect government assets, and enhance our collective capacity to respond to emergencies."
The Controller-General of the FFS, Olumode Adeyemi described the agreement as the first strong MoU between the Fire Service and a sister agency, promising that the FFS would deploy its capacity to protect Customs personnel and assets.
During a separate engagement with Unilever Nigeria Plc, the CGC said that the partnership reflected the Service’s commitment to deeper collaboration with the private sector, especially in addressing challenges affecting trade and industrial development.
He noted that the agreement would strengthen cooperation in counterfeiting prevention, intelligence sharing, and the identification and verification of suspected counterfeit products.
Adeniyi hinted that the MoU would provide a structured channel for real-time information on trademarks, product identification features, packaging and product samples, adding that the engagements with private sector often provide useful insights that influence Customs policies and operational decisions.
He appreciated Unilever’s sustained investment, innovation and employment generation in Nigeria, describing the company as a major partner in the country’s trade and industrial sector.
The Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria Plc, Tobi Adeniyi outlined the company’s long-standing presence in Nigeria since 1923, adding that more than 70 per cent of its raw materials had been localised and that the company supports about 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.
He praised the NCS for its transformation, particularly its digitalisation initiatives, the Authorised Economic Operator ,AEO, programme and other trade facilitation measures.
Tobi informed that the previous engagements with the NCS had already produced practical results, including the application of lessons from training involving more than 70 Customs officers.
He reaffirmed Unilever’s commitment to working with the Service to combat counterfeiting and illicit trade, while expanding the partnership through further engagements across the country.
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