In a renewed push to intensify anti-smuggling operations and bolster security in Kogi State, the Acting Area Controller of the Nigeria Customs Service, North Western Marine Command, Deputy Comptroller Haliru Isa Abdullahi, has called for stronger collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and other key security agencies.
During a strategic familiarisation visit to the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, at the Police Headquarters in Lokoja, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi emphasized the need for united front among security agencies to effectively tackle the growing threats of smuggling, arms trafficking, and cross-border criminal activities—especially along the Rivers Niger and Benue, which remain hotspots for illicit trade.
The visit, captured via the Customs’ official X handle, follows closely after a condolence visit to the Maigari of Lokoja. It highlighted the Customs boss’s commitment to building a formidable security network across Kogi State and beyond. He noted that Kogi’s strategic location near the Federal Capital Territory makes it both a vital commercial hub and a vulnerable target for criminal operations. Abdullahi stressed that no agency can work in isolation and succeed, advocating instead for seamless inter-agency coordination to safeguard the nation’s waterways and border routes.
Acknowledging the professionalism and hospitality of the Kogi State Police Command, Abdullahi assured that more engagements with sister agencies were underway to strengthen the country’s internal security structure. He underlined the strategic role of the North Western Marine Command in enforcing customs laws and safeguarding waterways frequently exploited for illegal activities, particularly smuggling.
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CP Miller Dantawaye, in response, described the visit as historic, being the first official outreach by the Marine Command leadership. He praised Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi’s operational integrity and pledged the full cooperation of the Kogi State Police Command in achieving shared security goals. He affirmed that the Police and Customs must work hand in hand to ensure peace, stability, and economic progress in the region.
The collaboration efforts did not end there. On April 9, 2025, Abdullahi paid a similar visit to the Nigeria Correctional Service in Lokoja, where Comptroller Hadiza Aminu pledged to support intelligence sharing and joint security efforts. Two days later, on April 11, the Acting Area Controller also visited Chari Megumeri Barracks, home to the 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, where Brigadier General Kasim Sidi expressed his willingness to offer full military support whenever needed.
These strategic engagements mark a new chapter for the North Western Marine Command, signaling its dedication to not only revenue generation and trade facilitation but also an aggressive crackdown on smuggling and other illicit economic activities. With a multi-agency alliance taking shape, the Nigeria Customs Service is reinforcing its position as a key player in the national security architecture, especially in regions critical to maritime and inland trade like Kogi State.
