By Osaigbovo Odigie
President Muhammadu Buhari has emphasized the importance of effective border policing in Nigeria and its neighboring countries, as the delicate state of entry points allows for terrorism, economic sabotage, and the illicit flow of arms.
The President spoke at a meeting with Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), who was in Nigeria for a Global Conference on Fragile Borders.
At the State House in Abuja, President Buhari commended Dr. Mikuriya for his fourth visit to the country and noted that it was particularly relevant as Nigeria prepares for its general elections. The President expressed his commitment to ensuring free and fair elections in a peaceful and secure atmosphere.
The theme of the conference was “Enabling Customs in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations,” which President Buhari deemed critical for Nigeria, the African continent, and the world. He stressed that the fragility of borders has become a major hindrance in the fight against terrorism, economic sabotage, and the flow of small and light weapons.
The President expressed his gratitude towards the WCO for dedicating an entire conference to the subject, recognizing its importance and inviting thought leaders to tackle the issue.
President Buhari briefed Dr. Mikuriya and his team on Nigeria’s efforts in combating the challenges posed by fragile borders.
These efforts include the National Security Strategy 2019, which promotes inter-agency cooperation, the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which mandates the Nigeria Customs Service to support government agencies in fighting terrorism, support for the armed forces in securing the borders, a strong political will to support the Nigeria Customs Service, the Federal Executive Council’s approval of a Customs Modernization Project, and an ongoing effort to review the Customs enabling law to strengthen the Nigeria Customs Service and impose stricter sanctions against smuggling and criminal acts.
The President hoped that the conference would provide comprehensive solutions to the multi-faceted issues posed by fragile borders.
Dr. Mikuriya praised Nigeria for playing an active role in the WCO, which is a 184-member worldwide organization. He noted that Customs services must now focus on security in addition to revenue generation and called for collaboration with other security agencies, the sharing of intelligence, and the deployment of technology to protect Customs officials who are often targets of terrorists and armed groups. He thanked Nigeria for hosting the three-day conference.
